Do you put BOL numbers on your log sheets?
 

I never have. I do remember it being mentioned as a requirement at truck driving school but I just never got around to doing it and nobody ever hassled me about it until a few weeks ago. A young cop gave me a warning about not doing it which of course means that now that I've been officially warned, the next time I'm caught not doing it, it's going to cost me.

Most BOLs don't have BOL numbers on them, or shipper numbers or any other number that seems appropriate. So I create a section on my log sheet for BOL numbers and write NO # for each bill that doesn't have a number. Soon I'm going to lose interest in this little game and it's going to cost me some money.

If it's a requirement that we write BOL numbers on our log sheets, it would stand to reason that it's a requirement that shippers put a BOL # on their bills. Is there no enforcement when it comes to shippers? Easier just to hassle the drivers I suppose.

I just make up a pro# if there's no b/l number. Easier than being harassed and fined. You already have the pen in your hand so fill in the blank and keep the guy with the badge happy.

you must have shipper and what your hulling (OR) bol. #

B/L # or not?
 

When I was in school, they did mention about putting the B/L # on your log book at the beginning of your 'Remarks' section. The problem is that if you get several little hoppers in one day, that sure takes a lot of space when you're also drawing lines and marking where you are and what you're doing.

In the past couple of years the rules have changed so much and the regulators have gotten so frivolous, it's best to mark you log book instead of giving the CSA or FMCSA something to write you up about so they can suspend you license

we use are trip number

dot doesn't like it and i don't care it's legal

you are required to have bol#, shipper name, commodity OR shippment # (trip #)

i had NC dot try to give me a ticket for it and i called my safety dept and then handed the phone to the dot. i left without a ticket/warning... love it when the company puts dot in their place

I've always just used the companies trip # and have never had a problem.

Good info - thanks. I'll get with the program. I suspect I got away without doing it for the first 5 years I was driving was because I worked for a factory, delivering their product. Every single load I carried was the same product line and was from the same shipper. Any fool could read the side of the truck and know what was supposed to be inside.

It all seems like make-work to me though. I can't imagine how it helps anyone in even a small way.

I think that one reason the DOT wants you to have a BOL number on your logs is so that they can check more easily during an audit. It also gives them something else to generate revenue.

Oh yeah, that's one of the blanks that auditors dinged another driver for for leaving blank during an audit. Usually there's an invoice number or Purchase Order number that you can write in as "Invoice #123" or "PO #456" or something.

you do not have to have bol# on your log all you need is shipper/and what your hauling(gen,ltl,ect) you do not need to write anything more then(nerest) city,st.(never use mile marker/hwy) ie.. you do not need to write pre trip,fuel,load/unload anything on a flag but city and st. you must fill in all spaces on your log. i have my logs made with very minamal info. i do not get paid for fueling my trk so i fuel off duty and have always won my auits/dot cks,...........you only have to flag pritrip,load/unload onduty not driving. the more info you give the more they have to trip you up. all my recite go in a box dot only gets bol and fuel recard to ck agains logs, you can white out any date/time and corect it(befor hand),even tolls.