Comments on: How to Survive a DOT Audit

By: Eric Arnold

Eric Arnold — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:38:12 +0000

A CDL driver can use a timesheet if he returns to his duty location within 12 hours, and does not go further than 100 air miles from the office. You can put multiple days on one sheet, provided you identify the time started, the time finished, and the total number of hours worked for each day. If a driver works 12 hours, (which is more than 11), it is not necessary for him to identify the number of hours he spent driving. However, if the driver works for more than 12 hours, he must fill out a logsheet for that day.

Hope that helps, if you have more questions, may I suggest my DVD package? Found at… http://www.arnoldsafety.com/uscogudvre.html, for $275, with the purchase price, you get access to me on the phone for all your questions. Shameless plug, but hey, it’s my website. Thanks for stopping by.

By: Eric Arnold

Eric Arnold — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:33:10 +0000

CJ: I have no idea why they are called ‘hotshots’. I know this, a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs. and under is subject to the same rules as a CDL vehicle with the exception of drug and alcohol testing, and the CDL license. You are allowed 11 hours of driving. You are also allowed 14 hours of driving and working. You have to stop driving when you reach your 11th hour, or your 14th hour on-duty, whichever comes first. Hope that helps, if you need more assistance, may I recommend my DVD package…. found at http://www.arnoldsafety.com/uscogudvre.html. With the purchase of the DVD package, you get phone access to me, for all your DOT questions. That’s a shameless plug, but, hey, it’s my website.

By: Marge Paul

Marge Paul — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:59:06 +0000

What information is needed on a timesheet to pass with DOT? If a timesheet is for a week & a driver only works 2 days out of a week, can he put 2 weeks ( 4 working days) on 1 time sheet or does he have to use 2 showing his days off in a week? Also does his driving hrs. have to be noted if a driver has total on duty hrs of over 11?

By: CJ Bailey

CJ Bailey — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:53:26 +0000

We started a small hotshot company. We are staying under the 26000 lbs. The question I have is, why do they call them a hotshot company if they have to log miles, and can only work 14 hours a day? A regular 26000 lb plus truck can run these loads just as fast.
A guy can work 14 hours a day, how much of this can be driving time? I am a local town driver, and we don’t have to use log books, so these rules are a bit hard to figure out. Thanks for any info you can give me.

By: Eric Arnold

Eric Arnold — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:06:23 +0000

Well, I’m not sure I understand the question. Two drivers take 10 loading the truck, then they drive another 10 hours to the jobsite? The rules say you can only work 14 hours, not 20. If you are using 2 logbooks to cover up the 20 hours worked, that’s still a violation.

Will DOT find the falsification in an audit? Maybe. Are these drivers paid by the hour? Are there time sheets or pay records which show them working 20 straight hours? If there are, that will prove the logs are false. Hope this helps.

By: Robin Murdick

Robin Murdick — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:15:59 +0000

A pair of driver loads their truck 8 to 10 hours. Gets into his unit, and drives another 8 to 12 hours, with no sleeper birth. Geting to the job site they go to work and do the job they are suppose to do. This work needs Haz. Mat endorsment. And is using two seperate log books for this purpose is it legal. And what is a full Company DOT aduit? Will this show up. Time sheets aganst log books? In 2007 there was a death involved in another state, head on. and the two log books were used and DOT did not catch this?

By: Eric Arnold

Eric Arnold — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:40:50 +0000

Wayne: You need to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which is this 600 page green book sitting on my card table. It covers things like drug and alcohol testing, driver qualification files, logbooks, and maintenance records. I offer a product on my website, http://www.arnoldsafety.com/uscogudvre.html, which is a DVD based training package. It includes the regulations, a set of forms for your driver file, a DVD of me talking for 76 minutes, walking you through the basics of the rules, and a transcript of what I said on the DVD. Finally, as part of the $275 purchase price, you can call me on the phone with whatever questions you have. I am very accessible via phone.

Hope that helps, good luck with your new business!

By: wayne anderson

wayne anderson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:05:58 +0000

hello i have a question i just bought a tractor no trailer and want to start trucking i have my cdl i just need to know what all is necessary before i can start driving i have my dot#,mc# ,insurance,boc 3 filings what else as a driver do i need i will be operating within 500 air miles of my base and should be home every night thanks

By: Eric Arnold

Eric Arnold — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:20:18 +0000

Sonny: The answer is yes to all of the above except drug and alcohol testing. Vehicles with a GVWR of less than 26,001 lbs. are not subject to drug and alcohol testing. However, all the other rules kick in at 10,001 lbs. GVWR.

By: Sonny

Sonny — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:19:23 +0000

Eric : I just started working for an insulation company that has 1 non-CDL 24′ straight truck (gas burner under 26,000 lb.) and 1 cube van (12,000 lb.) that are used in an insulation business. These trucks already have USDOT #’s and do cover the southeastern portion of the united states carrying insulation to their job sites. My question is, are the drivers of these trucks required to log and as a company, are we required to keep files i.e. driver qualification file, maintenance records, drug & alcohol testing, D.O.T. card and logs & fuel reciepts?