Logging—Know the Logbook Rules
At NTB, safety is a top priority, and staying knowledgeable about the rules is an important part of always keeping drivers and the people around them safe. While the rules are learned when studying for a CDL, they aren’t included in the test, and it is nonetheless very important to your safety to remember them. With that in mind, we are providing some good resources so that you can know and understand the logbook rules.
Staying Compliant
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Interstate Truck Driver's Guide to Hours of Service is a valuable resource and should be read and understood by every driver. However, there are some questions that can be answered by a quick look at the Summary of Hours of Service Regulations, which include but are not limited to:
- 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty
- May drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since end of last off-duty or sleeper berth period of 30 minutes
- May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days after 34 or more consecutive hours off duty
Effective route planning must be done in order to follow logbook rules, to make sure you have a convenient place to stop for fuel—for both your truck and yourself, and to ensure you’re managing fatigue.
How Do I Know If I’m Following the Rules?
Most seasoned drivers will know the answer to this question, but for a new driver, the rules may not seem entirely clear. This is especially true when unforeseen circumstances muddy the waters as far as how long a driver has been on the road.
In 2015 the FMCSA issued an hours of service logbook examples booklet. In this PDF, a driver can find examples of situations that fit nearly any question they would have about staying legal with the current laws. This booklet is a good resource for verifying that you are within legal driving limits.
Summary
Knowing the rules as they are written will give any driver a leg up in staying safe and legal on the road.
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