Truck driving is a very detail oriented career filed that requires the tracking of hours on the job and on the road. Drivers must also meet strict regulations outlined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including the accurate recording of hours worked in a designated DOT log book.
What is a DOT Book?
A DOT log book contains records jotted down by drivers who detail their activities over the course of 24 hours. According to the log book rules, drivers must keep track of their location and time spent on and off duty. It is beyond important that drivers fill out these forms completely thoroughly and accurately. Failure to do so or writing down false information can lead towards penalties from the law. Federal regulations required in the Hours of Service (HOS) forms guarantee that drivers will acquire the rest they need before hitting the road again.
How to Fill Out the Truck Drivers Log Book
A truck driver log book contains the date, name of carrier, truck number, and the total number of miles driven within a 24-hour period. If the driver used more than one vehicle, then it must also be reported in the trucking log book.
Once the driver finishes filling in this basic information, they should report the starting time of the 24-hour period, the names of all co-drivers, and the shipping document that specifies the carrier and commodity being transported. State the point of origination in the “from” line. In addition, write the destination in the “to” line.
How to Track Activity
During the drive, drivers must track their activities by inputting their progress on the graph grid. The graph grid contains a box for each hour of the day. It also has marked areas divided into fifteen minute intervals. The graph grid also provides four lines to help drivers indicate their activities. These include times that a driver is off-duty, sleeping, driving, or on duty and not driving.
How to Utilize Lines in your Log Book
Truckers should record their duties using a straight line passing through the center of the activity line. It should start from the beginning time to the end of the duty being executed. Keep in mind that The Hours of Service (HOS) log book rules vary according to the type of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and objects or subjects being transported.
Drivers should draw a vertical line from the first mark of the previous duty to the next line. Continue to draw the horizontal line for the current duty until it becomes necessary to draw the next vertical line.
Don’t Forget the Details
Don’t forget to leave comments in the remarks section after completing each duty such as time, date, and location. Make sure to be as detailed as possible and specify the city, town, and state you visited. Record the nearest milepost and highway as well. Be sure to count the number of hours and re-check to see if it equals 24. Proofread and check for mathematical and grammatical errors to ensure that your logs are accurate. Finally, be sure to write legibly when recording your information.