HOS Violation Question

What will probably happen is you'll get put "out of service" if you are currently in violation, and you will get fined. As to how much that fine will be, is going to be determined by the state you are in when you get caught.

One of our drivers recently got a nice little 750 dollar fine for a minor infraction in the state of Connecticut.

Paul staying legal on HOS and the inherent risks if you are not, totally emphasizes the need for effective trip planning. One of the biggest "shocks" you will have when you begin your solo career is the lack of available truck parking, especially in the North East. If you expect to drive until you are close to being out of hours, it's after 1700, and on the east coast, your plan will need to include a series of bail-outs such as a Wal-Mart, Lowes, or Home Depot because the likelihood of finding available real estate at Love's, Pilot, T/A, etc., is rather low. The other trick is to learn where the smaller, single operator, "Mom 'n Pop" truck stops are located. Trip planning is a learned skill, requiring discipline and like everything else we do while learning our profession; practice.

My point, the absolute best way to prevent a Log Violation is planning and preparation. Granted, luck does play a role, but over time an experienced driver learns how-to make their own luck.

This link may help you get a better understanding of what to expect and how to best prepare: Trip Planning Threads

The safe haven rule was told to me by Prime dispatch. Sorry fir passing on wrong info, I thought it was right.

Eric wrote:

The safe haven rule was told to me by Prime dispatch. Sorry fir passing on wrong info, I thought it was right.

Now you know.

Not the first time we have heard that, and not just Prime. I had a Swift DM tell me something like that my first month on the Walmart Account. Being the skeptic I am, next day when I returned to the DC, I asked the terminal manager if that was a legal reason for exceeding the 14 (...who now happens to be a good friend)? He replied emphatically; "He** NO. Who told you that?" I replied, doesn't matter, I didn't take their advice and I shut down at the Cabela's on PA-61 and I-78,...because thankfully, the day before I happened to see numerous trucks parked there, so I knew it was an acceptable place to shut-down. Lesson...look for stuff like that and make a note. You never know when you might need it in the future.

Anyway,...I think it's safe to say that dispatchers and driver managers don't always know the rules or the ramifications of breaking them. I mean seriously what is the point of having enforceable HOS rules if all you need to extend hours is claim "safe-haven"? Everyone would be doing it and basically running Wildcat.

The safe haven rule was told to me by Prime dispatch.

Not a problem Eric. I know this happens all the time. It is one of those little things that a lot of people think is right there in that green book. But if you ask them to produce it for you chapter and verse, well, things get a little quiet - real quiet actually. It is just nowhere to be found.

Old school, were you on 70 )I think) yesterday in Missouri (I think). I got passed by an empty flatbed looked like a black or dark blue tractor and had "old school " on the back of the tractor ?

What will probably happen is you'll get put "out of service" if you are currently in violation, and you will get fined. As to how much that fine will be, is going to be determined by the state you are in when you get caught.

One of our drivers recently got a nice little 750 dollar fine for a minor infraction in the state of Connecticut.

I lived In connecticut. Ant they are expensive for tickets.

In one week years ago I got a ticket in New York doing 92 in a 55. It was like $75 I got doing 71 in a 55 in Ct it was over $250.

Old school, were you on 70 )I think) yesterday in Missouri (I think). I got passed by an empty flatbed looked like a black or dark blue tractor and had "old school " on the back of the tractor ?

Nope, I'm at home in Texas for a few days. I drive a grey Volvo.

You're the third person in about a week now that thinks they've spotted me though!