Double Log Books
Topic 20113 | Page 1
Actually he's not a bad apple, nor is that the way it is.
I started trucking back in '93 when everyone was using paper logs. We all cheated. All of us. If you weren't cheating then you were probably fresh out of school and the rest of us would tease you for it. That's just the way it was back then. The companies knew it, law enforcement knew it, everyone knew it. The trucking industry was a big game of cops and robbers.
What was interesting about it, though, is that most of us didn't cheat to turn a ton of miles. We cheated to be able to run when we wanted to run, and stop when we wanted to stop. We didn't want any set of arbitrary rules telling us when we needed a nap or when we able to drive. I used to average about 3,000 - 3,200 miles per week, which you can do legally today under current laws using an electronic logbook. The problem today is that you don't have the flexibility you would like. You're forced to do your driving within a certain timeframe. It doesn't really allow you to stop for several hours during the day the way you could with paper logs.
There are drivers in our forum today who run electronic logs , turn over 3,000 miles per week, and gross around $70,000 per year. Now these are experienced drivers in more elite divisions and they really hustle all the time. But they're doing it legally with electronic logs.
So the news is all good. You can make an excellent living under today's laws using an electronic logbook. Don't let the old timers scare you.
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.
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.
I was wondering if double log books is still a big thing ? I have talked with a trucker who owns his own truck and he has said the only way to make money is to run with dual log books. it is a bit in- nerving to here that you have to work past your legal hours. Is this just one bad apple or is this the way it really is ?
FMCSA regulations require ALL CMV's (with rare exceptions) to be running electronic logs by Dec 18th 2017. The days of running multiple logs are ALMOST OVER.
Some drivers used paper logs to maximize their effectiveness - and some (the bad apples if you will) used them to plain old cheat and drive way more than the allowed (11) hours in a day.
As Brett elaborated - plenty of drivers get 3,000 miles a week - by MANAGING THEIR TIME EFFECTIVELY. And this comes with EXPERIENCE.
You could be REAL CREATIVE with paper logs - I have friends that ran 3 logs back in the day.
The reality is - as "casual" as sitting behind a wheel and just driving may appear - it is exhausting work nonetheless. And DRIVERS NEED THEIR REST.
Rick
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.
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
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
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.New Reply:
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I was wondering if double log books is still a big thing ? I have talked with a trucker who owns his own truck and he has said the only way to make money is to run with dual log books. it is a bit in- nerving to here that you have to work past your legal hours. Is this just one bad apple or is this the way it really is ?