Computer Logbook programs

[Kevin0915]

Another member mentioned another company for doing your daily log on your computer. This company is called Eclipse. I've already downloaded DriversDailyLog.com's program, and tested it out. Figure i'd give Eclipse a whirl. I like Eclipse, it is SUPER basic.......HOWEVER......

I know for a fact that DDL.com has several templates for different companies you can download so when it goes to print, it prints off like your company logbook. Eclipse however, i cannot find any templates....and there is one thread within the website from someone saying they just hired on with a company but they dont accept computer log sheets from Eclipse, just DDL.com.

Price dont matter. I am all ready to buy the DDL.com program for $95. With the Swift discount, the Eclipse program will run me $60 less, BUT it is a waste of money if i buy that program, and Swift dont accept logs from them because they do not have a template.

anybody help??? You you drive for (if you care to share) and if you do your logs on a laptop, what program do you use???

[Uturn2001]

Like you said, it is pretty much a waste of money, unless you want to hand copy what the computer spits out, if the company you work for will not accept a computer generated log or one from a certain program.

I think your best bet would be to talk to Swift and find out if log pages must be on a certain format.

I am not familiar with Eclipse but your comment about it being super basic has me somewhat concerned. How basic are you talking about. I know DDL will automatically audit your log entries and warn you of possible HOS violations, does the other program do this too or is it just a neater way to enter your log info than handwriting it? If so can you live with that even if Swift will accept it? Finally DDL has been around for a long time and many companies do accept the DDL versions even without a company specific template, how much will you really save when or if you go to another company and still want to computer log and they will only accept DDL and you end up buying that program later.

[Syncrosonix]

i'd go with ddl. a state trooper in utah who gave me a level 3 certification inspection a year ago was using that to check my log book pages.

[catalinaflyer]

Definatly DDL. I have run across several DOT officers who know their way around DDL and even use it for checking logs. DDL has been around for many years and I think they were the first. I was using them before any state would accept computer logs.

[Kevin0915]

well that sure made up my mind. GOOD POINT regarding switching companies, and they dont accept Eclipse, and end up buying DDL to begin with....

Eclipse is just too basic, and like you said earlier....hasnt been around that long, it dont seem.

[matcat]

Swift uses a very specific template because the swift logs are scanned by a computer.

[Rev.Vassago]

I've found that many DOT inspectors, upon hearing that you are using DDL, wont even bother checking your logs. It happened to me twice in the past 2 weeks.

[Walking Eagle]

REV. is right. Having to pull into every scale I come to I get at least a level 2 two or three times a week and as soon as I say "I'll have to go print off my logs" they will ask what I use, DDL, they will say don't bother. Ocasionally get a reminder that you are supposed to print them off each day and sign them.

[Fredog]

I use eclipse and it prints out a legal log sheet, it doesnt do anything besides logs like expenses or such, but I just wanted it for logs, it does warn you of over hours and it keeps your recap current, it also calculates your average mph. you can print your day so far if you get inspected for 39 bucks it's hard to beat

[Kevin0915]

i'd want something that i know the DOT and my company accept.

i bought the DDL program, but trying to catch up my logs for the past 3 days since my 70 reset, but having trouble with the line. Dont know if its something i'm doing wrong, or if its in the program.

this is what i'm doing and whats happening.....I start my day in the sleeper, the line goes till 930a, where i want to show a 15 min PTI. I then want to go from 945a till 1015a on line 3, but the line continues from line 2, to line 3...but there is also a line from line 2 to line 4 at 930a with no continuation up to line 3. what gives?? someone help me out? i sent a question to DDL help.....just waiting back to hear from them.

would just like to have everything ready to go by tomorrow morning when i blast out of home.

[Rev.Vassago]

i'd want something that i know the DOT and my company accept.

i bought the DDL program, but trying to catch up my logs for the past 3 days since my 70 reset, but having trouble with the line. Dont know if its something i'm doing wrong, or if its in the program.

this is what i'm doing and whats happening.....I start my day in the sleeper, the line goes till 930a, where i want to show a 15 min PTI. I then want to go from 945a till 1015a on line 3, but the line continues from line 2, to line 3...but there is also a line from line 2 to line 4 at 930a with no continuation up to line 3. what gives?? someone help me out? i sent a question to DDL help.....just waiting back to hear from them.

would just like to have everything ready to go by tomorrow morning when i blast out of home.

You drop to line 4 at 9:30. Then move 1 notch over to 9:45, and click again. Select "driving". It will go to line 3.

It isn't showing because you are trying to go to line 3 at 9:30 instead of 9:45. The beginning and end of every duty status change must be shown.

[carlos64030]

Why waste money on ink cartridges and paper when company provided log books are free?

In my opinion, computer logging is an ongoing and unneccessary expense that takes money out of your pocket.

Just sayin'.....

[Rev.Vassago]

Why waste money on ink cartridges and paper when company provided log books are free?

In my opinion, computer logging is an ongoing and unneccessary expense that takes money out of your pocket.

Just sayin'.....

It makes logging quicker, easier, neater, and it guarantees no errors. My logs are emailed to my carrier, which takes me about 2 minutes total to do.

I would never go back to a paper log.

That's like saying "why use GPS, when there are perfectly good maps?" "Why use air conditioning, when there's a perfectly good window?" "Why have air ride, when there are perfectly good leaf springs?" "Why use a cell phone, when there are pay phones available?"

[Kevin0915]

It makes logging quicker, easier, neater, and it guarantees no errors. My logs are emailed to my carrier, which takes me about 2 minutes total to do.

I would never go back to a paper log.

That's like saying "why use GPS, when there are perfectly good maps?" "Why use air conditioning, when there's a perfectly good window?" "Why have air ride, when there are perfectly good leaf springs?" "Why use a cell phone, when there are pay phones available?"

why pay for a lot lizzard when you have your .....? ....oh wait....TMI...sorry =)

[Kevin0915]

ok...this is what it is doing...and its really pissing me off now. and i am doing it just as you stated before....drop from line 2 to 4...at 930...but to show that, you have to actually click in the 3rd 'cell' of the 9a block. i do that...then move to the very next 'cell', and show up to driving....and this is what it does.

once i drop to line 4...that line should STAY in line 4, just like it does when i want to go up from line 4 to 3....notice how that line continues on from the point of driving??

[Rev.Vassago]

You aren't entering in specific time frames, are you? That almost appears as if it is trying to flag it for you.

I'll go through it step by step.

Step 1. Put your mouse over where you want to change your duty status. In this case, at 9 am. (The green bar is where you are trying to enter some information, or a duty status change)


Step 2: Click, and the information window will pop up. Change the duty status to "On Duty (Not Driving)", and enter a city and state.



It will now look like this:



Step 3: Move your mouse to 9:15.



Step 4: Click, and change your duty status to "Driving". Enter a city and state.



It will now look like this:

[Rev.Vassago]

I just figured out what you're doing. You're clicking on "Brake Check" instead of "On Duty Not Driving". Just use the top 4 lines unless you need to flag something.

[Kevin0915]

Yeah, i got it all figured out about 10 minutes after i posted that. My version seems a bit different. I have two seperate boxes...the one saying pre-post trip....then another box for things i need to 'flag'. I was using that 'flag' PTI, which is why it looked all messed up. I've since then have got all 6 days printed off, and waiting for today to 'end' so i can print that, and then have those 7 days as my legal log book on the truck.

i will still print off two copies...one which will get scanned with my trip envelope and i'll save those for a month before sending them home, and then rotate my most current 7 days, and put my 'old' log pages in an envelope with a stamp on it.

[Fredog]

It makes logging quicker, easier, neater, and it guarantees no errors. My logs are emailed to my carrier, which takes me about 2 minutes total to do.

I would never go back to a paper log.

That's like saying "why use GPS, when there are perfectly good maps?" "Why use air conditioning, when there's a perfectly good window?" "Why have air ride, when there are perfectly good leaf springs?" "Why use a cell phone, when there are pay phones available?"

why use windshield wipers when you have a perfectly good t-shirt

[Orangetxguy]

Wow......That looks so much faster than paper and pen.