Logbooks
All commercial drivers must keep a record of their hours of driving time.
Unfortunate, but a fact and for many drivers who are not mathematically inclined, this can be a nightmare.
Unfortunate, but a fact and for many drivers who are not mathematically inclined, this can be a nightmare.
What is a log book?
A log book is a record of your trucks movements and of your driving times. They are designed to keep a driver within the law and provide a record of all locations for which the vehicle has stopped at (this helps the company you work for within the law also by ensuring that they pay the correct amount in taxes and have provided you with the correct permits for your journey).
A log book is a record of your trucks movements and of your driving times. They are designed to keep a driver within the law and provide a record of all locations for which the vehicle has stopped at (this helps the company you work for within the law also by ensuring that they pay the correct amount in taxes and have provided you with the correct permits for your journey).
To the left is a logbook page, although modern logs can also come in the form of a computer generated page, e-log, or even in a slightly shorter form that exclude some of the extra info on the bottom of the page. There are four lines on the time rule on the log book:
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There is also room on most log book pages for calculating your weekly hours that you have available, the information for your truck, it's company, the trip you are currently on, to include information such as anything showing problems within the truck during the pre-trip inspection and room for fuel stops and any costs that you may need to be reimbursed for. Note: Not all log books are the same!
Who has to keep a log book?
You have to keep a logbook if your vehicle falls into any of these categories:
What are the Hours - of Service Rules? - For non passenger commercial vehicles
Where can I get a log book?
When you first start working for any company you may want to inquire whether they are running e-logs on their Qualcomm (sattelite truck communication device). If they are they will provide you with instructions or a course on how to work with it.
However, if you work for a larger motor carrier who does not have e-logs, they will most likely provide you with stacks of log pages. Smaller carriers may require you to provide your own or if you are a contractor running for various brokers or from a load board, you can find pads of log pages in any truck stop for a fairly reasonable price.
Note: It is a good idea even on e-logs to carry a pad of log books pages just in case your Qualcomm goes down.
UPDATE
Who has to keep a log book?
You have to keep a logbook if your vehicle falls into any of these categories:
- 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
- A vehicle that is involved in Interstate or intrastate commerce and is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards is also considered a CMV
What are the Hours - of Service Rules? - For non passenger commercial vehicles
- You have a limit of 11 hours of drive time every day plus 3 extra hours for on duty time (to run duties such as fueling, pre - trip inspection, load securement, unloading, loading etc)
- Every day you must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two.
- You may not drive after 60 hours of drive time and may not be on duty after 70 total hours of drive time and on duty time within the same 7 - 8 day period (week). Once you reach this limit a 34 hour restart is required.
- You can also run what is called and 8 - 2 split. This where you drive 8 hours, take 4 hours off and then drive another 2 hours. Some people find this more preferable as it breaks the drive time into chunks.
Where can I get a log book?
When you first start working for any company you may want to inquire whether they are running e-logs on their Qualcomm (sattelite truck communication device). If they are they will provide you with instructions or a course on how to work with it.
However, if you work for a larger motor carrier who does not have e-logs, they will most likely provide you with stacks of log pages. Smaller carriers may require you to provide your own or if you are a contractor running for various brokers or from a load board, you can find pads of log pages in any truck stop for a fairly reasonable price.
Note: It is a good idea even on e-logs to carry a pad of log books pages just in case your Qualcomm goes down.
UPDATE
Coming soon!