Yes, the DOT is looking at easy $$$ in "secretartial errors" in your log book...Keep them up, within four hours. Oregon is writing a bunch.

Also, watch your downhill speed. In WA we have a DOT guy that sits on I-5 NB at MM 18, writes at least four a day.

 

Donner was crawling with the highway patrol the other night going as I was heading west down into LA

Its was 2 am no less !!!!!!..... they are bushwhackers......watch out for them

 

I wonder...is there anyplace on this planet free from corruption...

 

Personally...and speaking only for myself....I haven't seen any "corruption" on the part of LEO's or DOT. I've been at this going on 16 years, and have passed every inspection I've had, and gotten my stickers. I've never paid a fine, and I've never gotten a speeding ticket. Frankly, I think there have been times in the past....when I might could have been pulled over.....but I never was. That was back when I pulled a van, but I gotta tell you, since I came back to tankers....its "easy does it"....

I don't worry too much about anything anymore, but I keep my ducks in order all the time.

By the way guys and gals....keep your log book "current to the last change in duty status"....that way you have even less to worry about. In my last Level 1 the Officer took my logbook right from the get-go... I asked why? and the answer was: To prevent any lines from being drawn.....

Keep it right, and keep it tight and there is little to worry about.

 

I would guess tanker drivers are very much legal...

Its not good to be sleepy when you got several thousand gallons of Gasoline

following you.

 

Last week I got pulled over as I was passing through Tuscon AZ on I-10. I saw the PD pickup sitting behind the construction barrier, and saw it come out after I was past the end of the construction zone. I also noticed that their compadre had a TSMT truck with explosives placards, pulled over at the first big wide area on the shoulder. When that pickup turned it's lights on to pull me over, I turned on my emergency flashers to indicate that I was aware of what they wanted...then continued on up the road to the next interchange, where I pulled off the big road. The first words the LEO said were "When we activate our lights, YOU are required to stop immediately."

I answered him with a shake of my head. "The last thing you need is this tanker pulled over in the same stretch of road where you have a truck with explosive 1.4 pulled over." "49 CFR requires that I stop my truck in an area which "I" deem to be safe. Within 1000 yards of explosives, with this particular chemical, is not safe."

He took my paperwork to do a level 3 inspection, came back with my books and paperwork 20 minutes later, and then he thanked me for knowing what the law requires of me. He laughed and said "My instructor was not aware of that particular regulation. We had it looked up and you are exactly right. We also should not have had that explosives truck stopped on the side of the road either."

I passed the inspection and got a "Merry Christmas & have a safe and happy New Year" out of both of them. After they returned my paperwork the Trainer of the pair asked why I had used my cell phone. He wondered if I had "Girlfriend" issues. I laughed and said "Nope", just called the terminal manager to let him know you had me stopped on the shoulder of the road with this load. I also put it through on the Qualcomm to cover my azz.

Having all the paperwork properly signed, presented in the proper order, along with the logs up to date is important. Understanding what the law requires of you, to perform your duties "safely", is also important. Especially with Haz-Mat.

Revenue generation is being taken to new heights, with all the new powers that have been given to County and City Law Enforcement agencies, which can now perform their own separate DOT inspections. Before, they had to sit and wait for a state inspector to show up..or turn you loose.

 

This is the reason why I'll be leaving the current O/O I'm with after the beginning of the year, regardless of whether I get rehired by Swift or not.

This guy has pretty much told me to "take a flying leap" every time I mention; deducting taxes, changing out the balding drives, and fixing the fuel gauge.

Then there's the dispatch at the yard that could care less about resets and whatnot.
Only way I avoid trouble from that is by refusing any loads going up to the Bay Area.
For whatever reason, those troublemakers are always dying to send me up to that awful place.

Anywho, EMT certification, then paramedic-training await me if all looks like it's going downhill.

Then after that, Cali is getting the flip of the bird!!