We have electronic logs. That computer knows everything about the truck. It has GPS, and they can look on the computer and pin-point us to exactly where we're at.
Anyway.. I didn't want to change myself. I got so used to drawing the lines for so long. After I got the 'hang' of logging on/off, and everything else we do on the computers, I wouldn't want to go back to log books.
I think, once you get the 'hang' of the electronic logs, you will like it better.
The good thing about it, you don't have to worry about updating your log books, or correcting the lines, etc.
The bad thing, you can't drive 2 more hours, and show that you been sleeping. You can only run legal, and not a minute more.

 

I dont mind running legal atall, but if i was to get to the delivery and start my 10 sleeper period infront of the gate then Im very limited in what i can do to get to the dock without going into violation... from what Ive gathered so far, stay below 5mph and stay within 7/10 of a mile or so....
So basically i feel like this is further limiting my flexibility, as if the HOS werent rigid enough. Also this means i cannot tell dispatch that i have to shut down due to lack of hours! Now they can see my logbook and if im dog tired and just plain need to sleep i will instead have some doode telling me i have to go on for 4 more hours. If i decline....

 

They can't force you to run tired. I don't know the exact regulation #, but it covers driver fatigue. You can be fatigued after 12hrs sleep just as easily after 12hrs of work.

 

I think you are putting your cart before the horse. As far as your dispatchers go, if you stop and take a nap.....big deal. IF they say anything you just message them on the QualComm or Blackberry if you're using People-net, that you were drowsy, so you stopped an napped. Period. Once you put it on hard-copy discussion is over. The only thing you should ever discuss about logs on the phone dispatch, is any confusion you might have over how e-logs work.....in the beginning.

You're gonna love E-logging. It is going to keep idiot dispatchers at bay.

 

I have a question.... we are a small company -meaning we have 12 to 15 trucks. My question is about being able to produce printed copies of the logbook for law enforcement. I have an HOS Handbook that states that the driver must be able to "print the logbook pages on demand" if stopped by law enforcement. Our equipment is not the kind of truck where the driver would have a printer in the cab of the truck. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

§ 395.15: Automatic on-board recording devices.

(a) Authority to use automatic on-board recording device. (1) A motor carrier may require a driver to use an automatic on-board recording device to record the driver's hours of service in lieu of complying with the requirements of § 395.8 of this part.

(2) Every driver required by a motor carrier to use an automatic on-board recording device shall use such device to record the driver's hours of service.

(b) Information requirements. (1) Automatic on-board recording devices shall produce, upon demand, a driver's hours of service chart, electronic display, or printout showing the time and sequence of duty status changes including the drivers' starting time at the beginning of each day.

(2) The device shall provide a means whereby authorized Federal, State, or local officials can immediately check the status of a driver's hours of service. This information may be used in conjunction with handwritten or printed records of duty status, for the previous 7 days.

(3) Support systems used in conjunction with on-board recorders at a driver's home terminal or the motor carrier's principal place of business must be capable of providing authorized Federal, State or local officials with summaries of an individual driver's hours of service records, including the information specified in § 395.8(d) of this part. The support systems must also provide information concerning on-board system sensor failures and identification of edited data. Such support systems should meet the information interchange requirements of the American National Standard Code for Information Interchange (ANSCII) (EIARS-232/CCITT V.24 port (National Bureau of Standards “Code for Information Interchange,” FIPS PUB 1-1)).

(4) The driver shall have in his/her possession records of duty status for the previous 7 consecutive days available for inspection while on duty. These records shall consist of information stored in and retrievable from the automatic on-board recording device, handwitten records, computer generated records, or any combination thereof.