In the April 1-14 issue of the Trucker Newspaper on page 44 there is a column called "Ask the law".
A driver wanted to know if he could log off duty when he was using the vehicle for personal use.
The reply came from a Senior Texas Dot Enforcement officer and he stated that the following interpretation of off duty time comes from part 395.8. He stated that when a driver is relieved from work and all responsibility of performing work has ended then time spent traveling to his home or motel can be logged off duty. The type of conveyance does not matter as long as it is unladen. When a driver is then dispatched again from his home, he would then be on duty when he leaves home.
Since in expediting we do not have terminals to travel to could this rule be interpreted to say that when we are deadheading after a shipment and going back home, we do not have to log driving, just off duty.
I looked through part 395.8 today and could find no reference as to this senario. My book was published in June 2005 so I wonder if this was an update or change. If so it could really help out on the 14 hour clock rule. Does anyone have any information on this.
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A driver wanted to know if he could log off duty when he was using the vehicle for personal use.
The reply came from a Senior Texas Dot Enforcement officer and he stated that the following interpretation of off duty time comes from part 395.8. He stated that when a driver is relieved from work and all responsibility of performing work has ended then time spent traveling to his home or motel can be logged off duty. The type of conveyance does not matter as long as it is unladen. When a driver is then dispatched again from his home, he would then be on duty when he leaves home.
Since in expediting we do not have terminals to travel to could this rule be interpreted to say that when we are deadheading after a shipment and going back home, we do not have to log driving, just off duty.
I looked through part 395.8 today and could find no reference as to this senario. My book was published in June 2005 so I wonder if this was an update or change. If so it could really help out on the 14 hour clock rule. Does anyone have any information on this.
N