Profile For Airborne

**Update**

I sent this email today:

"I hope you had a great thanksgiving! I wanted to touch on a couple of things that I’ve recently learned over the last day of doing research in regards to federal hours of service regulations. I know you may not know a lot of this (it wasn’t easy to find) but I wanted to share the knowledge.

Per the FMCSA manual and trusted sources that I’ve consulted it looks as though having one hotshot driver drive - while the other is sleeping and/or in the passenger seat and logged off duty is a no-go per federal law. Both drivers must be logged on with the driver logged in as driving - and the passenger logged in as on duty - not driving. There are some exceptions to this rule - but they only apply to semi trucks with DOT approved sleeper berths.

This ultimately gives a team a total of 14 hours of driving time in the 14 hour on duty period (11 hours from driver A ,and an additional 3 hours from driver B) before the 14 hour clock is over for both drivers and a 10 hour reset is required for both drivers.

The thirty minute break rule also appears mandatory for hotshot drivers prior to 8 hours of driving, and must be taken away from the vehicle free of all “on-duty responsibilities to the truck or freight”.

I by no means am telling you how to run your company. However, federal laws and regulations are what they are , and with civil penalties up to $26,000, revocation of licensing and the possibility of jail time being in the mix for those that willfully violate federal HOS regulations - I am saying that to move forward as a driver, myself and any team mates in the vehicle would need to comply With the FMCSA regulations. To me, it’s simply not worth the risk. I do this not only to protect myself and my license but also to protect your company as a motor carrier from what could come as a result of not being in compliance.

Having said all of that- this is your show, your equipment, and your rules. If this doesn’t work for you- I understand with no hard feelings and can make arrangements to drop the keys to XXX if needed. "

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I then got a phone call 30 mins later that someone was coming to my house to pickup the truck keys - which they did. So it would seem i'm once again a free agent... but not incarcerated..I'll consider it a win.

I would agree that this particular company and situation isn't my thing for obvious reasons - but I love the hotshot game!

I do believe I've decided - it's time to get my own DOT/MC credentials and truck/trailer - no more nonsense.

Thanks!

Thanks for the replies.

To answer a couple of questions - It's my LLC contracted with their company - where I ride under their DOT and MC authority.

I don't know if I correctly conveyed the entire situation - one driver drives his 11 while the other guy is sleeping in the passenger seat - then you swap out - so the truck is running non-stop.

Why hotshot? I've really only ever been interested in hotshot - driven a semi, it just wasn't my thing.

Thanks again for the replies!

I recently earned my Class A CDL and landed my first team hotshot gig. My LLC is contracted with a small carrier running the mid west and east coast. I've been at it for a week and have concerns.

So far I've been asked to keep driving while logging 30 min breaks, and put myself off duty while in the passenger seat (where I should be sleeping - but am unable to due to music, the road, and a plethora of other noises) which also looks to be illegal except for when immediately coming out of a sleeper birth - which we don't have, and then drive my 11 hours. I was also asked to drive for 5 hours when I had no legal driving hours left and just log it as on duty - no vehicle, which I refused to do and did a reset in a parking lot instead.

Not only is this predicament obviously illegal - it's also exhausting and dangerous.

My question is - what gives? CDL School teaches to follow HOS rules with regulations and laws clearly spelled out. It's obvious this company has been doing this sort of thing for years. Is this a common mindset of hotshot trucking companies? Are the HOS and sleeper birth rules more geared towards semis with hotshots just being 'roped' and it doesn't really matter? I looked at penalties of WILLFULLY violating HOS rules - with civil penalties and even mention of jail time being possible consequences. All of this scares the crap out of me - but doesn't appear to bother this small company at all - am i overreacting?

I'll wait a couple days to hear some replies - but I think i'll send an email prior to going back on shift in a few days letting them know I'd love to keep my job but I intend to follow the rules - with both drivers on duty while the vehicle is in motion (and no other illegal nonsense), at which point i'm sure they'll likely fire me. This really sucks because i need a job - I wanted to get experience in hotshot trucking, but i have no desire to go to jail.

What would you do?

Hi Anne!

Thanks for your reply. My basis for stating Maverick appears to pay a little better than Prime was CPM - and the reviews/videos I've come across during my research. However - with Prime I was looking @ refer - and with Maverick it would be flatbed, so not a truly 'fair' comparison. I do like that Maverick has regional mid-west, the Prime recruiter didn't mention that being an option, but I suppose anything is possible.

At any rate, I got through the initial screening today - was told my app should be processed in a couple of days - and if all was well they would call with a start date.

-Travis

Hello All,

My name is Travis. I've lingered here for a couple of weeks and thought I'd join. I'm a (former) home inspector from FL - making the move to Oklahoma (outside of Tulsa) and looking to get into driving. I do have my GA CDL permit. I have a start date with Prime in October but recently found Maverick Transportation. With their higher pay and home time it certainly interested me more than Prime. I applied yesterday (I'm actually currently on hold with Maverick to go over my app). No accidents, tickets, DUIs etc. I have been self-employed for the last three and a half years and have about three and a half years of law enforcement experience prior to that. I'm an Army/Iraqi freedom vet and hold a B.A. in Criminal Justice.

I'd like to be a 'mid-west' regional diver. Flatbed appealed to me - but I'm open to other freight. I'd like to find a company that would allow me to be out a week, out two weeks, then out a week for the month as I do have two children.

Any other great mid-west companies open to new drivers with no experience that can be recommended?

Thanks In Advance!

-Travis