DOT Audit

[tcartwri]

Now, here's a few tips. NEVER give more info in the log than what is required. NEVER do something such as "Wallahalla MI, fuel" in the remarks. This flag will have them asking for a fuel receipt.

You have to indicate fueling locations and change of status locations in your log. Not having any, will cause the questions.

FWIW, I have not had to show a log book in over ten years. Not sure if I'm just lucky or what.....

 

[The Haymaker]

Good post Haymaker. Keep your answers simple and short. When i roll through a check if they ask me for a log book, I just say I run under the 100 air mile exemption rule. Thats the end of it.


Off subject a little. Rolled into a weight check on the I-95. I haul a milk tanker. Two compartment trailer. I had loaded only the front. Up onto to portables. Young new recruit reading scale. Seasoned veteran behind him supervising. Front axle OK. Put drives on scales. Newbie thought he had a nice summons to write. I was way over for interstate weight laws. Pulled my trailer wheels on. He scratched his head, looked at his supervisor. Trailer was wicked light? He asked, You loaded? Nope. Empty? Nope. Well what to **** are you? Half loaded Officer. supervisor was chuckling. Pulled over and open both valves and leveled load out. Young recruit came over and asked why i didn't tell him I was only half full. Well sir, you didn't ask. I thought it was a little funny, until his ears got a little red. Thought i was going to have a level 1 inspection, but he just walked off grumbling.

Should've corrected him. You weren't half full, you were half empty!

I've had one attempt to write me on an HM placarding issue and I asked to go back to my tractor while he was doing the ppwk. I came back with my PHMSA book and pointed out what I had based my placarding on. He actually said, after a pause, "You're right.... Have a nice day" like a jilted housewife. I'm hoping it's been long enough and he won't remember me again.

I had one ask me once what I was hauling. "A full load of sailboat fuel" I answered. He asked me to open my doors so he could inspect my load, which I did. "I thought you said you had a full load" and got testy with me for lying. I'm not sure he ever did get the joke.

 

[The Haymaker]

You have to indicate fueling locations and change of status locations in your log. Not having any, will cause the questions.

FWIW, I have not had to show a log book in over ten years. Not sure if I'm just lucky or what.....

No sir, you do not have to overtly say "fuel", nor "Lunch", "pee break" etc. Only thing you need to show is change of duty status and what town it happened in.

Federal CSR's. 395.8 (d)(1 through 11)

Funny thing about these regulations, they are subject to interpretation by the using officer whichever way generates more revenue for the system. ALWAYS carry the regulations with you, they can save a lot of hassle down the road, no pun intended.

Freight securement is a great example of this. 393.100 (3)(c) states "Prevention against shifting of load. Cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured in accordance with this subpart to prevent shifting upon or within the vehicle to such an extent that the vehicles stability or maneuverability is adversely affected. ".

Yet, 99% of the time they are issued, officers are citing my company for pieces of freight under 50lbs being loose amongst a full LTL load in an enclosed van. Not worth fighting in court so we lay down and take it.

Last one I got for a securement issue was for a 3500lb lift on hardwood flooring loaded crossways in the nose of an otherwise empty 53' air ride. His explanation was that "it could slide the length of the trailer and go through the doors causing harm or worse."

My answer of "With no disrepect sir, but if that slides 53' and still has enough force to blow out the doors, it will be the least of my worries, because it would mean I am doing 65mph in reverse through the woods."

It didn't work.

 

[firedog]

In Jasper Texas a man i know was pulling a 20ft dual gooseneck trailer with single wheels with his one ton going to nome texas to a auction hauling his personal tractor to sell it his neighbor brother is a state senator and he bales hay for him and the other brother is the warden of angola prision they tried to beat the ticket and couldn't cost the man 1200 bucks when he was done paying. He has Farm Tags. The officer give him a ticket for improper drivers lincense no health card and no log book.

Farm tags were probably the kicker on that one. They are cracking down pretty hard on folks who run farm tags but use their trucks for personal stuff. Not quite sure what would have flagged it as non-farm use though (tractor and all). The one ton with trailer is still non-cdl until you get to 26001#.

 

[newbury]

louisiana just past a law last year if you have a dual wheel one ton and pull a trailer you must have a cdl no matter the wieght rating on the tractor. I know a man that got a ticket in his truck pulling a single axle bumper hitch trailer. They have not cracked down to hard yet but they was bad in texas. That is why i got a 3/4 ton when i bought in 09 and am looking for a big truck because if i have to have the cdl to drive the one ton i mine as wheel get a 18 wheeler for what i do.

Here's the LA DMV FAQ:

Q. Who needs a CDL?

A. A CDL is required to operate the following:
Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle pulling a trailer if the trailer has a (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver.
A vehicle hauling hazardous materials in amounts required to be placarded.

NOTE: A vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in excess of 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds may require a Class D Chauffeur痴 license.

no mention of duallies.

 

[whodat526]

Farm tags were probably the kicker on that one. They are cracking down pretty hard on folks who run farm tags but use their trucks for personal stuff. Not quite sure what would have flagged it as non-farm use though (tractor and all). The one ton with trailer is still non-cdl until you get to 26001#.

hauling a tractor isn't that farm related

 

[whodat526]

Here's the LA DMV FAQ:
no mention of duallies.

yes that was the law i have a 2 good friends that is state represenatives and another that is a state senator and another a state trooper the state trooper is the one that told me the law they was passing and i call the 2 state reps. and they told me it was true and me and a man from beaumont went to a meeting in dallas texas and they state dual wheel vehicles you must have a cdl no matter the tags or the use

 

[newbury]

yes that was the law i have a 2 good friends that is state represenatives and another that is a state senator and another a state trooper the state trooper is the one that told me the law they was passing and i call the 2 state reps. and they told me it was true and me and a man from beaumont went to a meeting in dallas texas and they state dual wheel vehicles you must have a cdl no matter the tags or the use

need to see it in print. From the TEXAS CDL Drivers Handbook:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/documents/DL-7C.pdf

You must have a CDL to operate:
A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating GVWR
of more than 26,000 pounds.
A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the
gross combination weight rating is more than 26,000
pounds.
A vehicle designed to transport more than 15 persons
including the driver.
Any size vehicle which requires hazardous materials
placards.
(Your state may have additional definitions of CMVs.)
To get a CDL, you must pass knowledge and skill tests. This
manual will help you pass the tests

Do you have a link for

the law they was passing

?

Lot's of laws are proposed, not all pass and get signed.

Not saying it's not true, but it's the same rumor my BIL heard for Mississippi a year ago.

 

[whodat526]

need to see it in print. From the TEXAS CDL Drivers Handbook:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/documents/DL-7C.pdf


Do you have a link for ?

Lot's of laws are proposed, not all pass and get signed.

Not saying it's not true, but it's the same rumor my BIL heard for Mississippi a year ago.

it might have not past but i know the last year they have been hard on 1 ton trucks and not having a cdl. I will call tomorrow and find out exactly what it is know. Because like i said the state rep. and trooper are the ones that told me not to buy a 1ton to buy a 3/4 ton

 

[firedog]

yes that was the law i have a 2 good friends that is state represenatives and another that is a state senator and another a state trooper the state trooper is the one that told me the law they was passing and i call the 2 state reps. and they told me it was true and me and a man from beaumont went to a meeting in dallas texas and they state dual wheel vehicles you must have a cdl no matter the tags or the use

A one ton with a gvwr of 13K and a trailer with a gvwr of 14K would put the gcvwr over 26K and require a CDL.
There is no mention in the state regs about duallies. TxDPS - CVE Publications
Somebody's giving you some bad info.