Got Placed Out Of Service

I fueled up and took my 30 break at the same time. I logged the fueling as off duty and I'm sure you see where this is going.

I got pulled over a few miles from the California border and received a level 2 inspection. I got hit with falsifying logs and placed out of service for not logging my fuel stop. 10 min cost me 10 hours, a hit to Primes CSA score, and this load getting delivered on time. Plus I expect some sort of punishment from Prime.

I can't really make any excuses on this. I did it to save time on my 70 and I told the officer what I did when he asked if he would find anything before searching my logs so I was 100% honest. The only bright spot is no citation.

Lesson learned, I'll be 100% on point about logging my fuel stops.

Oh wow hate to hear that Adam. Just out of curiosity did how did he know about the fuel stop? Did you just tell him or did he already know somehow. Why did he stop you? Just to do a random inspection? Hate to hear this happened to you. Hopefully Prime won't be too hard about it.

When he checked your logs, did he just check the last 8 days, or how far did he go back?

Oh wow hate to hear that Adam. Just out of curiosity did how did he know about the fuel stop? Did you just tell him or did he already know somehow. Why did he stop you? Just to do a random inspection? Hate to hear this happened to you. Hopefully Prime won't be too hard about it.

He wanted to see my recipts so I showed them and thats when he asked if he would find anything.

And yeah, he pulled me over on the interstate. I knew what was coming when he pulled out of the median as soon as I passed him lol.

I think he went back the last 8 days. He was digging through my old paperwork and the Qualcomm.

He wanted to see my receipts so I showed them and that's when he asked if he would find anything

From a guy who spent 15 years out there using paper logs and getting checked regularly, from now on always send in your receipts immediately with payroll.

"You want to see my receipts? Oh sorry, I don't have any receipts. I sent them in already." - said Brett 5,000 times over the years.

"Am I going to find anything wrong?" asks the officer.....

"I already know you can if you really want to, so it depends on how hard you try I guess, but to be honest I'm really hoping you won't find anything" said Brett with a huge smile 5,000 times over the years.

Be cool with any officers that pull you over. Don't get defensive, try not to act nervous, keep a joke in your pocket to spring on them, ask them something about their job so they know you respect them and what they're doing, and just be a pleasant person to deal with. That's no guarantee of anything, but it's about the best you can do to keep the damage to a minimum.

Play it extra safe now. Keep everything in tip top shape. If this is your first one Prime isn't going to go bananas about it, but they're not exactly going to bake you a cake and sing you a song, either. When you're dealing with your company about this matter, listen closely and show them you're taking it very seriously. If they detect you don't think it's a big deal they're going to be more inclined to demonstrate to you that it's a big deal. If you're clearly remorseful about it they'll know you're taking it seriously and they'll assume it likely won't happen again, so they'll let you off a little easier.

Smile big and be friendly with the officers, cry a river and show remorse to your company. Then stay out of trouble for a long time.

I haven't taken or kept a fuel receipt yet... should I be? No one in my company has mentioned it.

I am a company driver and use a comdata card to purchase fuel. I need to carry receipts?

Prime wants us to scan fuel recipts into payroll with each trip, other companies may be different.

Carrying receipts is not a requirement of any sort. Some companies require you to get a receipt and send it in with payroll, others have eliminated that need altogether.

For those of you who do have receipts with you, as you've learned from this conversation, the DOT can use them against you if you present them with the receipt. Personally I never kept any with me for that reason, I would send them in immediately.

This applies to fuel receipts, repair receipts, and toll both receipts also. If you have any receipts with you and you volunteer them to the officer he can match them up with your logbook to make sure you're logging everything legally.

Same here Brett. Never carried fuel reciepts with me. No way will I give them more things to use against me. But I never had a bad experience with the DOT. Its all about your ability to make them laugh, personality, and you must look professional.