Logbook Rules: How Would You Make Them Better?

My biggest problem with the HOS rules is that it punishes the driver for other people's actions. I also do not believe you can make things more safe by removing flexibility.

I would keep the 14 hour rule or raise it to 16. Either is fine. However, it would stop for any time logged in the sleeper birth. That way a driver is not penalized for making the safe choice to take a nap.

If a driver's clock runs out while at a customer than they cannot be penalized for driving to a truck stop or safe haven within 100 miles.

The old split sleeper birth rule should be reinstated to allow sleeper birth time to be split into any two periods greater than two hours.

Add an Off Duty Driving line that could only be used for personal business, but could be used regardless of being under a load or not.

Keep the 70/8 and 34 hour restarts.

Get rid of, or be able to stop the 14 hr clock.

Get rid of the 70 hr rule.

No matter how annoying the 70 hr rule is, it is there to protect drivers.

After reading comments and giving more thought to how I would change the rules; I would change them the following ways.

Eliminate the 14hr clock.

Keep the 30 min DOT break.

Change the 11 hr drive to 10.

Leave the 10 hr break and split sleeper as is.

Raise the 70 hr to 80 hrs.

Leave the 34hr reset as is.

If a driver's clock runs out while at a customer than they cannot be penalized for driving to a truck stop or safe haven within 100 miles.

100 miles? I like your idea, but I think it's way too lenient. How about within 10 or 20 miles?

If a driver's clock runs out while at a customer than they cannot be penalized for driving to a truck stop or safe haven within 100 miles.

100 miles? I like your idea, but I think it's way too lenient. How about within 10 or 20 miles?

Big cities often don't have Truck parking within 50 miles. I was in Warren Michigan (suburbs of Detroit) and the closest truck stop was 40 miles away, and it was pay to park too.

I don't like the 30 min break. I'd either nuke it or allow it to be split up into smaller breaks totalling at least 30 min. Example being multiple bathroom breaks counting towards the 30 min.

The only two things that really aggravate me are the 14 hr rule and the 30 minute break. Get rid of those, and I'd be happy.

I also agree with this sentiment. The 14 hour rule is the dumbest if all of them, for the reasons Brett has given. Making it 16 hours doesn't make it much better. Let me work when there's work to do, and make me rest 8 or 10 hours a day.

And the 30 minute break is dumb, too. Why can't I take two 15 minute breaks, or three 10 minute breaks? Why does it have to be 30 consecutive minutes? Make it 30 minutes every eight hours, broken up however you like.

The only two things that really aggravate me are the 14 hr rule and the 30 minute break. Get rid of those, and I'd be happy.

I also agree with this sentiment. The 14 hour rule is the dumbest if all of them, for the reasons Brett has given. Making it 16 hours doesn't make it much better. Let me work when there's work to do, and make me rest 8 or 10 hours a day.

And the 30 minute break is dumb, too. Why can't I take two 15 minute breaks, or three 10 minute breaks? Why does it have to be 30 consecutive minutes? Make it 30 minutes every eight hours, broken up however you like.

The common theme I'm seeing is that folks are wanting to make things even more confusing with w,x,y and z but also q, r and s as long as you perform d and e. The regs already read like the federal tax code because of lobbyists and people who have no clue as to the reality of the industry and that really needs to stop. In this case, the old system, a very simple one, works the best and allows for the least amount of confusion.

My reason for 100 miles is that there may not be a spot close by. Even if there is a stop there may not be parking.

If a driver's clock runs out while at a customer than they cannot be penalized for driving to a truck stop or safe haven within 100 miles.

100 miles? I like your idea, but I think it's way too lenient. How about within 10 or 20 miles?

I see your point, but 100 miles is a long way and a lot can happen in that time. If you've already driven 11 hours that day you don't need to be driving another 2 (at least) to get to a truckstop.

I am obviously still a rookie, but If I could change the rules, I would eliminate the 14 hr rule. I also would change it from 11 hrs of driving to 12 hrs of on duty time before requiring a 10 hr break. As far as the 70 and 34 hr reset I would keep them as is; because I really don't know of a 'better' solution.

I like Patrick's solution. It takes care of the flexibility issue with the current 14 hr rule by eliminating it, while also addressing the need for some sort of limit so drivers don't work themselves to death. Simply eliminating the 14 hr rule might be enough for otr drivers since the bulk of their work is actual driving, but I don't think it's quite enough for other positions. G-Town's gig on Walmart dedicated is a great example. He does quite a bit of driving, but he also spends a decent amount of time each day at stores and the dc. The 14 hour rule means he has to rush all day, which isn't good, but at least it provides a safety net to keep him from having to drive after he's already been working for 14 hours. Get rid of that rule with no substitute and he could end up working a 16+ hour day.

The only thing I would change about Patrick's solution is to allow drivers to work more than 12 hours, but not allow them to drive after 12 hours On Duty.

If 12 hours isn't enough for some people, maybe 13. I don't know. I just really like the simplicity and structure of Patrick's idea.