Trucker Reportedly Forced To Alter Log Book Before Crash Awarded $80 Million!

LDRSHIP’s reply to me...

Did I once say that I edit my logs everyday? I said it IS possible. Have I ever fudged. No worse than Brett has ever done. He admits to it as well. I am NOT advocating to go do it. I am merely pointing out it is STILL a possibility. It can and does still happen. It really is that simple. I am not advocating for it. Do what one’s own conscious allows.

I never suggested that Patrick (in bold) My issue is simple:

You discribed how to disconnect your device...and basically drive outlaw and not get caught. Not cool. I know I am paraphrasing, but basically that is what you wrote. Did I get the wrong?

I then replied that if a driver attempts that with a QC or PN or any other of the ELDs that the Megas run, its grounds for termination...well you had a comment about that.

Fact is with very few exceptions the Newbies coming through here end up driving for one of the larger carriers with tightly controlled, secure and tamperproof ELDs. As such, your point about disconnecting your device is not relevant and IMO not something a moderator should be introducing to a rookie audience. I’ll stand firm on that and won’t back down. You might be able to get away with such a thing and keep your job...they won’t. That was my point...and I was fairly clear about that.

You also just wrote this:

Everyone who is productive even with tightly controlled ELDs works in a grey area often.

How so? Do you speak for all of us, or just yourself? Whatever...I totally disagree with that, especially the “often” part. All I can edit is on-duty not driving vs. off-duty. That’s it...and certainly not something that enables higher productivity.

I so much as drive over 5mph and I’m on the drive line. The driveline is not editable. Can’t speak for other companies, but the ELD Swift is running with is tighter than a Frog’s Ass.

I got nothing against you Patrick and wasn’t offended with anything you said. Your choice to work for your present company was yours to make. A choice that is likely unavailable to a rookie driver, thus some of the freedoms you have are not available to them and have little bearing on their path to rookie success.

I should clarify, but the grey area mainly applies to OTR positions. Hourly or even your situation with Walmart doesn’t apply as strictly. Mainly when at shippers and receivers, how many of us show the required amount of time then go off duty/sleeper berth. Nvm if we have to reposition on the customers property. So much is done while off duty/sleeper berth. That is the grey area I’m referring to.

I never said how to not connect to the device. Keep Trucking GPS unit uses a Bluetooth connection to your phone or tablet. ‘Nuff said.

You are right, a rookie would not work for a company like I work for. They have no business doing it. One little rookie hiccup and it is job over.

Yes, with the Omnitracs, PeopleNet and other services that use a QualComm or other devices it is usually hard wired into the truck. If you try to mess with it you will get caught. But many of the very small companies and O/Os can’t afford such expensive services and devices. They use devices and services such as Keep Trucking. They often connect to your smart phone or an off the shelf tablet.

How about this.

DISCLAIMER: Brand new Rookies have no place or should even attempt working for a small trucking company. There is a reason most require 2-3 years of experience first.

That being said, the truth of the matter is that the game of Smokey and the Bandit is still going strong, even in today’s age of ELDs.

LDRSHIP continued...

I should clarify, but the grey area mainly applies to OTR positions. Hourly or even your situation with Walmart doesn’t apply as strictly. Mainly when at shippers and receivers, how many of us show the required amount of time then go off duty/sleeper berth. Nvm if we have to reposition on the customers property. So much is done while off duty/sleeper berth. That is the grey area I’m referring to.

I never said how to not connect to the device. Keep Trucking GPS unit uses a Bluetooth connection to your phone or tablet. ‘Nuff said.

You are right, a rookie would not work for a company like I work for. They have no business doing it. One little rookie hiccup and it is job over.

Yes, with the Omnitracs, PeopleNet and other services that use a QualComm or other devices it is usually hard wired into the truck. If you try to mess with it you will get caught. But many of the very small companies and O/Os can’t afford such expensive services and devices. They use devices and services such as Keep Trucking. They often connect to your smart phone or an off the shelf tablet.

How about this.

DISCLAIMER: Brand new Rookies have no place or should even attempt working for a small trucking company. There is a reason most require 2-3 years of experience first.

That being said, the truth of the matter is that the game of Smokey and the Bandit is still going strong, even in today’s age of ELDs.

Thank you for adding some clarity.

The grey area you speak of is more a product of the rule itself, an inability to enforce it, and less inherent to whether a true ELD is in place, or not.

And in truth, I leverage it many times.

- if dealing with a live load at a vendor back haul, I’ll show on-duty the first 15 minutes, then log off-duty until I’m green lighted

- if I am 2nd it 3rd Wally truck at a store, I’ll log off-duty until my turn comes.

Because of added logic at the server level, ELDs on Walmart assigned trucks are more strict with adherence to the on-duty status when supervising a live unload at a store or Sams. Some things can be edited out to grab 15 minutes here and there, but the leeway is highly limited.

So I do agree the grey area is something more prevalent (required) for true OTR work.

As far as the clarification of disconnecting your device? This is exactly what you wrote in a previous reply:

I use a logging app. Keep Trucking. Even if you have their ‘ELD’ device installed in your truck you can choose to not connect to it. Even though it will appear in every way that you are running e-logs, in reality every single thing is completely able to be edited. You can make entire days of work disappear. Just depends on how good you at are writing a convincing story for the DOT to look at. Keep Trucking also does not flag portions of the log that have been edited. So, the DOT officer only sees the final product. Also you can go back after “signing” your logs, erase your signature and edit whatever you want.

Your words. To me potentially misleading to a rookie or someone trying to understand trucking right out of the gate. I’ll leave it at that.. pointless to debate any further. You see it your way, and I see it mine. Peace.

Good luck with this job Patrick. I think your original thought some years back of hiring on with WMPF would have been an interesting choice to explire after your initial career with HOW. Might be less stressful, possibly more lucrative...not sure. But conformity is a very big requirement with WMPF...not for everyone, but there is a price to be paid for everything, including stability.

Again, best of luck.