Question:
log book violations?
doc
2007-06-30 18:05:25 UTC
can you use your big rig off duty for recreation and not log it
Eight answers:
anonymous
2007-06-30 18:09:38 UTC
you can use it but you have to log your time as "off duty".

provided you are not under dispatch



I know this as my husband is an owner/operator and we are long time members of OOIDA.





DOT laws are federal........
kimmer
2007-06-30 18:20:26 UTC
On some conditions, yes. I always loved this questions when my drivers would ask.

There is an exemption for personal converyance of a motor vehicle so you don't have to log it.... However, the DOT's interpretation of it states that it must be a reasonable amount of time involved. But there is no definition of what "reasonable time" is.

My suggestion to you as it has been to all of my drivers would be if it takes you more than 15 minutes, you should log it.

Obviously, for the fatigue factor the DOT doesn't want you to drive 600 miles on a personal nature and then report to work to drive.

If you're just going down the street for a cup of coffee or lunch, you're okay. But my rule of thumb has always been if it's more than 15 minutes you should log it or you could be held in violation of the driving limitations.

And technically, you can not log off duty when you are behind the controls of a motor vehicle, so play it safe and avoid a citation.
gone
2007-07-01 22:07:50 UTC
Real World Answer.

Example; Layover in Houston for 3 days. Bobtail to San Antonio to see daughter. USS Texas battleship. Galveston for seafood dinner. Louisiana for some gambling. Logging while doing this just to keep everyone happy.

Fourth morning pick up trailer and head out, those 3 days show off duty.
?
2007-06-30 18:22:35 UTC
What kind of recreation would you use a tractor for? Bobtail to the park? I would say no,you must log all driving times unless you keep a local (100 mile rule) manifest that exempts you from log books.
Tom Thumb
2007-06-30 19:03:08 UTC
You got questions I got answers. You can listen to everyone that has answered this question or you can take it from me. Because I am the enforcer. I am the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and we don't take kindly to personal conveyance. So I am going to give you the real interpretation. Our minimun fine is $2000 for violations of the FMCSR. If you need answers you should get them from our website. www.fmcsa.dot.gov. You can deal with the truck stop lawyers or you can deal with us. Like I say our MINIMUN fine is $2000 and we not only fine companies we fine drivers as well.. So here's the interpretation you asked for.



Question 26: If a driver is permitted to use a CMV for personal reasons, how must the driving time be recorded?



Guidance: When a driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work, time spent traveling from a driver's home to his/her terminal (normal work reporting location), or from a driver's terminal to his/her home, may be considered off-duty time. Similarly, time spent traveling short distances from a driver's en route lodgings (such as en route terminals or motels) to restaurants in the vicinity of such lodgings may be considered off-duty time. The type of conveyance used from the terminal to the driver's home, from the driver's home to the terminal, or to restaurants in the vicinity of en route lodgings would not alter the situation unless the vehicle is laden. A driver may not operate a laden CMV as a personal conveyance. The driver who uses a motor carrier's CMV for transportation home, and is subsequently called by the employing carrier and is then dispatched from home, would be on-duty from the time the driver leaves home.



A driver placed out of service for exceeding the requirements of the hours of service regulations may not drive a CMV to any location to obtain rest.

Oh and by the way once your 14 hour clock start it doesn't matter what you do, because at the end of the 14 you best be getting rest.
answerman
2007-06-30 18:09:40 UTC
If you are in your home state you can probably get away with it. Just like if you were a local driver!! Otherwise you got to log as bobtailing, and it counts against hours of service!!
b.douglaswyatt
2007-06-30 18:44:06 UTC
i think you can but you will probably need to cover up the co. name and put a sign that says private veh. - not for hire on both sides. but you should contact your state police/D.O.T. i think the registration will be a problem also, commercial verses private....
ja man
2007-06-30 18:08:25 UTC
I don't believe so, maybe you should check with the DOT of your state


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
Loading...