QuestionHI Don, here is some more info.
The truck is a 1 ton dually. It is under a trucking company in Sasketchwan
Canada with the company name dot on the decals but I own the truck. You do the same trip
everytime. You drive to Indiana and pick up a RV/Camper and bring it back to
Manitoba. You never have a load on the way down, you don't have a trailer as
well as you pick up the whole unit there. As far as I know you don't have to
stop at the scales as the sign says 4 ton trucks and larger. You get paid by
the loaded mile. I don't know about dispatch, you can go any time as long as
there is a RV to pick up. I have been told so many different stories. Some
say you have to log on the way down and others say you don't as you are not
getting paid. Does a Semi have to log if it doesn't have a trailer on
behind.
Thanks Don,
Brian
AnswerThanks Brian, that helps.
****My answers are based on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 49 CFR, Part 395 Hours-of-Service*****
You would be required to log the time driving down to pick up the trailer as on-duty, driving, as well as the time returning loaded. If the carrier allows you to, you can log meals as Off duty. The other activities, i.e. rest stops, etc would be logged appropriately in their category. The FMCSA HOS regulations require you to account for and log ALL time when performing any function for any motor carrier including pre & post trip inspections. The first leg would be the same as dispatched in route for a load. Whether you're being paid at that time would have no bearing on the HOS rules. You should be logging everything in one of the categories, from the time you do you go on or report for duty until the time you're relieved of any duty for the carrier. Actually, if you have another job not even related to driving, technically, you'd be required to log that time also, since the primary reason given for the HOS regulations is to ensure a driver is rested and alert to drive a commercial motor vehicle.
Another point is that you have to account for every day of any month when you operated a CMV. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to fill a page for each day, because you can log multiple consecutive days Off Duty on the same log book page.
A SEMI driver would have to log the hours even if he had no trailer if he was performing any function for a motor carrier. That can be bob tailing, or relocating, or going to pick up another trailer at a different location. Just about everything is required to be logged when operating a commercial vehicle. Not trying to be facetious, but I suppose if you drove a SEMI to the store to pick up bread and milk, there might be an exception.
The scales are operated by each individual state and the requirements do vary from state to state. Sometimes it is 8 tons, and sometimes a different weight. Most states require ALL commercial vehicles to cross the scales when they're open.
You may want to go to the website and read through the HOS rules...
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.as...
Thanks for the question and I hope this has helped some....
...Don
SEMO Motor Transport Service
