Question:
The expiditing company I drive for is getting slow. I spend several days out, up to two weeks sometimes, but usually only five or six days. There are times, however, when out on the road, that I sit for days on end. This has happened quite a few times in the last few months. Once in Dallas, for three days, deadheading to Little Rock, where I spent another day before getting a load. Another time in Harrisburg for almost four days and two weeks ago in Baltimore for three days. If I were single, it wouldn't be so bad, but I'm married with kids. I drove "local only" two weeks ago and they kept me fairly busy and I was home every night. I drove to NC, SC, GA and TN, from our terminal in northwest SC. For two days they had nothing at all. I wound up making about half what my best weeks were, but not a whole lot less than my overall average over the last six months.
Another company has offered me a job that would only entail one or two runs a week. Their drivers make deliveries to distributors and then return empty, usually with only one stay overnight or direct and return. They figure it will grow into a full time job soon, but for now, it's just a couple days a week. I applied and was offered the job. I told them I wasn't going to quit my other job and they didn't have a problem with that. They will call me when the next delivery is ready and if I'm available great, if not, it will go to another part time driver.
I'm going to request to stay "local only" again with my present company. That will get me home every night and when the new company has a run, I'll take it and tell my present dispatcher I'm unavailable until I return. Actually, there's another reason for wanting to be home more. My daughter has gotten into some trouble and I think I need to stay close for a while.
Does this sound at all feasible? Driving for two companies at one, I mean? What about logging? I can't very well turn in logs to my present employer for hours driving for my new one. I don't know how they will react if they find I'm moonlighting, especially as it means I'm not driving OTR anymore with them. I am considered one of, if not the top driver in the company, so they have bent over backwards to accomodate my time off needs for meetings of my service organization, of which I'm a state officer.
Any thoughts or ideas?Wayne


Answer:
False logs pops into mind.
If you log off-duty for the days you work for another carrier you have falsified your log book.
Is there a chance you'll get caught? Who knows. However, if you are ever involved in an accident the possibility of you being caught increase significantly.
More and more drivers are going to jail for falsifying their logs when there is a fatal accident involved.
FYI."If men were angels...No government would be necessary."
51st Federalist Papers
"Nichols' Fourth Law says, "Avoid any action with an unacceptable outcome"

Answer:
Hey if Co #1 can't keep you busy, then they really can't complain about you needing to make money.
Do you own the truck you drive, or is it a company truck? The reason I ask is the company my boss is leased to has a warehouse in Pineville,NC. If the truck is yours I might be able to make a few calls, and get you on with them. Business is good right now, and doesn't have the slack times regular freight seems to have.
Bottom line...you have to do what is best for you and your family. Having a boss/company that treats you well is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately you can't tell the cable company, "sorry I can't pay you this month, but my boss is really cool!

Answer:
If you own your own truck, you will need lease agreements with each carrier you desire to haul freight for. I doubt if you have your own MC DOT number, therefore, you must use an authorized carrier's MC DOT number to haul freight for hire.
Of course you will need magnetic signs or other appropriate method to apply the required signage for each carrier you operate for."If men were angels...No government would be necessary."
51st Federalist Papers
"Nichols' Fourth Law says, "Avoid any action with an unacceptable outcome"

Answer:
In both cases, I'm a company driver. As far as logs go, I'd run legal, of course. But how could I keep the logs I turn into my original company from showing the driving time I encur with company two. Or should I just tell the first company that I'm driving for another company also and that's why I can only drive "local only". In either case, I will take weekends off, as much as possible to reset my 70 hours.Wayne


Answer:
Legally there is no way to keep your time secret from either company as you are required to show all time worked (be it driving or non driving). Even if you were to get a part time job flipping burgers it would still have to be logged as time worked and reported to whatever company(s) you drove for.
The only thing you can do is to be upfront with both companies. That is the only way to keep you out of potential legal problems.