New E-log Rules
Topic 11802 | Page 3
The biggest hurdle I will need to overcome, however, involves the e-log: I simply don't understand it
I only used paper logs my entire career. What's interesting is that back then you really didn't need to know the logbook rules very well because you could write down anything you wanted to. Plus the logbook rules back then were quite a bit simpler. There wasn't much to know - 10 on, 8 off, split the sleeper berth if you want, 70 hour limit - that's about it! That's all there was.
What you're going to find with elogs is that you can still turn 3,000+ miles per week but you're forced to do it "by the book". With the combination of the 11 and 14 hour rules once your day starts you have to keep going and going and going. Back in the day with paper logs we could run when we wanted to and shut down when we wanted to. We had a ton of flexibility. That's gone now unfortunately and I feel like it's made the roads a lot more dangerous.
For instance, I figured out real quick that stopping for a break every two or three hours max was great policy. It felt great to get out of the truck and stretch your legs, freshen up the mug of coffee, walk around a little bit, use the restroom, and take a few deep breaths of fresh air. You get back in the truck and you almost feel like you're starting your day all over again. I rarely ever drove more than three hours at a time and yet I turned 3,000 - 3,500 miles per week consistently throughout my career.
On top of that you could stop anytime you wanted to for heavy traffic, a passing thunderstorm, or a short nap. Nowadays once that 14 hour clock starts on elogs you run, run, run if you want a decent paycheck at the end of the week. All of this stopping for weather, stopping for short breaks, and stopping for naps mostly goes out the window.
So you'll be able to turn the miles with elogs but you're going to have to learn the rules inside and out so you can make the absolute most of your time available. The best way to do that is with the Logbook Rules Training Module in our High Road Training Program. Go through that and you'll be thanking yourself endlessly that you did. Knowing the logbook rules thoroughly with elogs is a requirement if you want to turn good miles consistently.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Logbook:
A written or electronic record of a driver's duty status which must be maintained at all times. The driver records the amount of time spent driving, on-duty not driving, in the sleeper berth, or off duty. The enforcement of the Hours Of Service Rules (HOS) are based upon the entries put in a driver's logbook.
Elog:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
Elogs:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
Sleeper Berth:
The portion of the tractor behind the seats which acts as the "living space" for the driver. It generally contains a bed (or bunk beds), cabinets, lights, temperature control knobs, and 12 volt plugs for power.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I'm curious what you're supposed to do if the e-log devices malfunctions in any way... I personally hope it doesn't happen but sometimes things do. Should I keep a paper copy just in case... would I need to have said paper copy be a full copy or just the day it goes down?
You should always have a paper log book with you, and if your unit goes down, you just start using the paper logs. Here's the kicker though, you need to go ahead and reproduce your last eight days if you can't access it on the electronic unit. I've had mine go on the fritz before, but I could still show an officer if I needed on the unit. I could still access the information, but it quit recording my current driving hours temporarily. Next day it was all back to normal. These things are very reliable in my limited experience - a little quirky sometimes, but still reliable.
You should always have a paper log book with you, and if your unit goes down, you just start using the paper logs. Here's the kicker though, you need to go ahead and reproduce your last eight days if you can't access it on the electronic unit. I've had mine go on the fritz before, but I could still show an officer if I needed on the unit. I could still access the information, but it quit recording my current driving hours temporarily. Next day it was all back to normal. These things are very reliable in my limited experience - a little quirky sometimes, but still reliable.
I had mine when I was at swift go completely dark. Couldn't see the screen. Wouldn't come back on at all. Had to call safety and have them email my last eight days so I could re-log my days. What a pain in the ass. Took the shop 2 min to fix. The cable going to the battery for the unit broke off.
As long as your company can email you your previous record I'm cool... I just don't want to have to keep a paper record and elog to have a just in case... if need be I can fill out 8 days of paper log but not need to if I don't :)
Elog:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
The latest "The Trucker Newspaper" has an article on the "Final" rule on e-logs.
Dave
The latest "The Trucker Newspaper" has an article on the "Final" rule on e-logs.
Dave
Would you mind quoting it or posting a link if it is online? I don't have access to that soooo... telling me it's printed somewhere doesn't help much.
The latest "The Trucker Newspaper" has an article on the "Final" rule on e-logs.
Dave
Would you mind quoting it or posting a link if it is online? I don't have access to that soooo... telling me it's printed somewhere doesn't help much.
Elog:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.
The latest "The Trucker Newspaper" has an article on the "Final" rule on e-logs.
Dave
Would you mind quoting it or posting a link if it is online? I don't have access to that soooo... telling me it's printed somewhere doesn't help much.
The Trucker Newspaper is also available at MOST truck stops. However it was the Dec. 1-15 issue, so you might not be able to get it.
Dave
Elog:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.
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Guess I missed that. Thank you
Electronic Logs:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.