Question:
Perhaps I could find out the answer to this by reading through all the logbook instructions, but can someone tell me: when you are out for, say, two weeks at a time, do you eventually run out of hours so that you have to (or, get to) park the rig for a day... even though it isn't 'at home'? The most I've ever been out was for a week (home on weekends... kinda thing). I know, I know, I'm a sissy... I don't mind being away from 'home' (whatever that means to a single guy), but 12-13 days straight of driving with no day off... is that what you guys/gals are doing out there? Thanks for the response, everyone.

Answer:
to MANAGE your hours. Driving 12-13 hours a day not only is tiring, but also means you are out of hours after only 4 or 5 days, and you must park it for a day or two to "gain" some hours back. This is NOT recommended. Can't make any money sittin'.
My goal was to use 8.75 hours per day (8 driving, 15 for pre- and post-tripes, and 15 minutes for load/unload or fueling. That way, if I HAD to have a day where I'd need 11 or 12 hours, I'd have 'em, and not have to worry about running out.
The closest I ever came to running out of hours was 12.something.
Remember, it's not only the hours that use use while DRIVING, but also what (and HOW) you use Line 4 (ON DUTY) time.
I used 15 minutes for load/unload, then put myself on Line 2 until the trailer was loaded. I also used 15 mins for fueling (company policy), and 15 mins for drop & hook. And yes, these logs WERE inspected twice by DOT folks, and they never batted an eye at 'em!
Doing it this way, I never used more than 11 hours a day, except when I needed to, and if loading/unloading took more than 8 hours, my "clock" was always reset to where I could drive for 10 hours.
This is another thing you'll learn as you go - you'll log based on your dispatch. If you only get a 200 mile trip, then have to wait 12 hours for another, you won't be using many hours. However, if you get a dispatcher who keeps you moving - well, you'll have to learn how to keep the freight moving while juggling your hours.
Also, despite what they tell you, driving 10 hours straight IS legal - but NOT recommended. I did that my first day in the truck, 596 miles from Monroe, MI to Fletcher, NC.
It CAN be done, but few do it because it takes a lot out of you, plus it's not good on your bladder :-)
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I'm not a truck driver, I'm a professional tourist!

Answer:
detfree, was NOT implying that he "worked" 12-13hrs/day.....
He is telling us that he is out OTR for 12-13 days before going home.(which is NOT Unusual considering that Most OTR carriers require a drvr to stay out 10-21 days before going home.)

Answer:
What is your carrier's Hometime Policy?(some carriers require the drvr to stay out 10-21 days before going home.)
Something else to remember....
Carriers do NOT automatically send drvrs home after the required amount of time out has passed...It is DRVR'S RESPONSIBILITY to Request Home Time.

Answer:
Thank you for the replies.
Yes, C.Sun, I am asking about 12-13 days out, not hours of work/driving per day.
The company I'm looking at has it's drivers out for 12-13 days, then home 2-3 days. That's fine. What I'm trying to find out from those of you in the know... when you are out that long (i.e., 12-13 days at least at a time), does that mean 12-13 days driving in a row... or do you eventually run out of hours (say, in 6 or 7 days) so that in fact you HAVE to park it for a day to maintain legality? The long hours (sometimes working with/around the log book), I understand. But I'm talking about constant driving, 12-13 days straight with the only break being the sleeptime... which we all know can sometimes be a bit rare. Thanks.

Answer:
Just b/c a drvr is out that long does Not mean that the drvr will run out of hours.
If the drvr is doing a lot of drving or if the drvr spends a lot of time On Duty/Not Drving then, yes...the drvr will run out of hours.
If the drvr does a lot of sitting waiting for dispatch to find them a load...chances are they will Not run out of hours within that time frame.(b/c most drvrs log that down time as either "Off-Duty" or they use that time to Sleep, therefore they log it as "SleeperBerth".)

Answer:
I have this burning question for anybody to answer.It has to do with the 15 hr rule,stating that you may not drive after being on/not driving for 15 hrs.Now for the hyptheical question.
I go to work, do a 15 min pre-trip, then head out for 4.5 hrs driving. I arive at my dock, where I work for 14.5 hrs, I then return back home and do a 15 min post trip. Is this a legal run or not.
This is only a hypthetical question.

Answer:
Is the COMBINATION of Drving AND On-Duty Not Drving.
Therefore, you have gone OVER on the 15hr rule by about 4.5 hrs.

Answer:
monday you deliver in the morning,pickup in the afternoon and don't deliver untill wed. 800 miles away=7 hours per day gets logged.
Friday morning,your chance of getting a long weekend run are not that great,it could be 1800 miles or 500 miles for 3 days.
Pickup and delivery times will reduce your chances of running out of hours.
The work has to be there in the first place,the appointments have to be efficant and in many cases,it just don't fall into place,so you wait.
You will sit half a weekend sometimes.you will waist half a day here and there,you will wait and wait and some weeks everything will fall into place and you will run out of hours and have to take a day off.
Don't worship a false prophet.The only true savior is James Hoffa Jr,the son of GOD.
Answer:
posted January 09, 2003 14:11
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"Since were on the subject of logging
I have this burning question for anybody to answer.It has to do with the 15 hr rule,stating that you may not drive after being on/not driving for 15 hrs.Now for the hyptheical question.
I go to work, do a 15 min pre-trip, then head out for 4.5 hrs driving. I arive at my dock, where I work for 14.5 hrs, I then return back home and do a 15 min post trip. Is this a legal run or not."
The 15 hr. rule says that you cannot DRIVE after 15hrs(or more) on duty until you have 8 hrs. off duty. If you log the 14.5 hrs. on line 4 along with your 15 min. pre trip, And log your 4.5 hrs driving then you have 19.25 hrs. on duty without any off duty time. You are done driving at that point until you have at least 8 hrs. continuous off duty.
The (or more) part is like your case. You can drive for 10 hrs. and then work on the dock or whatever work you want to do for as long as you want. The only requirement is the 8 hrs. continuous off duty before you drive.
So back to your question. You say you return back home and then do a 15 min. post trip. If by returning back home you mean driving the truck back before the post trip then it's probably not legal, unless you fall under the 100 mi radius rule. If you are a local driver then that is a different set of rules and I don't know if the 15 hr. rule applies. I'm sure the 60 in 7 or the 70 in 8 rule does apply and at that rate you would be out of hrs. pretty fast.
Where's Mike M when you need him! It's sad to know he's gone.
[This message was edited by Beeman on January 09, 2003 at 21:47.]

Answer:
I agree with Beeman:
I always thought the 15 hour rule was a combo. of driving and on-duty time......but only applies to driving.
Always thought you could work (on-duty) unlimited hours or days consecutive, but you have to have 8 consecutive off or sleeper before you can drive again.
Greg.
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HAPPILY MARRIED AND IN LOVE !!
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Answer:
You should be able to find the answer at the Link below...
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/Log.htm
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15 HOURS ON-DUTY TIME:
The 15-hour on-duty rule is often misunderstood to mean that a driver can only be on duty for 15 hours per day. This is not really the case; the rule merely says that a driver cannot DRIVE after he has been on-duty for 15-hours, until he has had at least eight consecutive hours of rest. There are no exceptions to this rule - the principle once again is that a tired driver is not a safe driver.
*The above was taken from the fmcsa website.

Answer:
The rule says 8 continuous hours of off duty time. If you go off duty and play racket ball or run a marathon that's OK also.

Answer:
"go to work, do a 15 min pre-trip, then head out for 4.5 hrs driving. I arive at my dock, where I work for 14.5 hrs, I then return back home and do a 15 min post trip. Is this a legal run or not."
On duty not driving hours are 15 minute pre trip + 14.5 hrs dock work + 15 minute post trip. Equals 15 hours on duty not driving. The 15 minute post trip doesn't count because you are done driving. So you have 14.75 hours on duty not driving.
Then you have 4.5 hours driving getting to the dock and 4.5 hours driving getting back home. Equals 9 hours driving.
You have a total of line 3 and 4 of 23.75 hours on duty. Your 15 pre trip, 4.5 hours driving and 14.5 hours dock work were ok. Your on duty not
driving time came after you drove so it is ok. Accumulated time to that point was 19.5 hours. You should have had an 8 hour break before
driving home again.
legally you can do an 15 minute pre trip then drive 10 hours with some off duty breaks and then work for the next 10 days in a row if you want but you can not drive again until you have had an 8 hour break. You can work as many hours a day that you want but you can't drive without an 8 hour break after any combination of 15 hours on duty not driving or driving time, lines 3 and 4.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Answering detfree's question. It's real easy to run out of hours each week. I do it all the time, or should I say I use to. I run a lot of produce so it has to get there quickly. On occasion I am not given enough time to do it legally. But, I squeeze it out into a legal time frame by making a few phone calls to the receiver myself. We use brokers whom for the most part could care less about HOS. I just fix it for them and then let them know. They don't like it much but I don't care. We won't use them again if their real idiots.
Because I seemed to always be running out of time we have a new plan. If a run takes up a lot of my weekly driving time and there is no way of doing a return trip legally the company will give me a day off (24 hours) where I dropped. It is better to have a day off before loading a return load than it is to have to stop while loaded with a customer waiting. Every now and then I'll get a really long run (2200-2700 or more miles) that requires some hard driving to make it on time. I'll ask them to not reload me until the day after I drop, not only for hours, also so I can get some rest. They accomodate that also.
If you get loads that require you to maximize your driving time getting there you can run out of hours quickly. Or you may end up with very few hours remaining for the week. Some companies that watch your hours will schedule runs that you can legally do. Depending on the hours you have available you may sit if they don't have a compatible run for you.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"