Busting The Safe Haven Myth - Help Me Out Here Could Ya?

I don't think this will help but I'll just put it out there lol.. I saw a weigh station with a sign that said "truck safe haven" when scales are closed... I'm sure its just a safe place to park but this thread made me think of it lol

I've often wondered about this whole scenario as well so when I stopped in the Iowa 80 for lunch, there just happened to be a Iowa DOT officer getting coffee so I picked his brain.

Indeed, if you're empty, you could use your PC time to get you to a location to shut down. If you've just been loaded, you're most likely going to route yourself to the closest place on the way that you can stop which by definition, won't allow using PC time because you're advancing a load.

His response was pretty simple. They can quickly look at your logs and see that you were sitting that entire time and got hung out to dry. If you're only going a short distance, say within 30 minutes of where you left from, they will probably let it slide. Just remember, it's up to officer discretion at that point and as we've discussed in the past, your attitude and make it am easy issue or a potentially expensive one.

Okay, I'm glad we've got the research arm of Trucking Truth awakened and "on the hunt" to de-bunk this mysterious, and I believe non-existent, "safe haven" rule that every trucker seems to think is a legitimate rule allowing you to go past your legal driving hours. Here is what we have come up with so far:

David, who insists that there is such a provision, produced an article which basically confirmed my suspicions that the only "safe haven" rule is one that applies to loads of explosives being parked in a secure location. The article actually agrees with my contention that the "adverse conditions" rule does not apply to a situation where you have been hung out to dry at a shipper or receiver.

Scott, found a sign at a Weigh Station that had the words "Truck Safe Haven" on it - Sorry that didn't help me a whole lot.

Robert found a really nice D.O.T. man who, if you catch him on a day that he is in a good mood, might cut you some slack after he looks at your logs and sees that your shipper held you up excessively.

So far all this research has confirmed my firmly held position that this so called rule is a Truck Driver's "old wive's tale." I wouldn't dare try and use it unless I knew for sure I could back it up with a page and section number in that little "green book" you are supposed to have with you on your truck.

Old School, I'm tempted to just disagree with you and proclaim that the Safe Haven rule exists because debating with you is so much fun.

I posted everything you need to know and more about this subject around 11 months ago. I just bumped it back to the top of the forum also. Here is the link...Safe Haven Rule Explained

Thanks Anchorman, that is the same article that Dave referenced. I completely forgot about this being posted about previously - once again my suspicions are confirmed - if anyone tries to use the "safe haven" rule to extend their hours for safe parking, they are in violation of the log rules - because there is no such rule.

Isn't it funny how many people you hear talking about this non-existent rule?

Thanks Anchorman, that is the same article that Dave referenced. I completely forgot about this being posted about previously - once again my suspicions are confirmed - if anyone tries to use the "safe haven" rule to extend their hours for safe parking, they are in violation of the log rules - because there is no such rule.

Isn't it funny how many people you hear talking about this non-existent rule?

Well the TruckingTruth research arm did not find any such rule either. The Adverse Driving Conditions Exception was the only applicable rule we could find but it has nothing to do with reaching any sort of safe haven.

"Safe Haven" has gotten a lot of people in a bind because push it their day tooooo far, then try to claim SH exemption. Same with personal conveyance. If you are under load, PC cannot be used to advance the load.

I think all our members should read this thread and then comment that they did so. This is a very common misconception and we need to ensure that the myth has been busted at TruckingTruth. I would hate for someone to use the mythical "Safe Haven" rule and then get in trouble.