Questions
Topic 6317 | Page 1
Hey Tim - sorry it took so long to respond. I think a lot of us are tied up a bit with the Holiday coming.
As far as a "typical day" in trucking, that varies wildly. Some people have dedicated routes or local work where their schedule is pretty much the same all the time. But most drivers have absolutely no routine whatsoever. You're out there going moment to moment, day to day. You might pick up at 3:00 a.m. and deliver at 2:00 p.m. and the next day you'll do the opposite. Sometimes you'll drive all day and sleep all night, sometimes the opposite. You rarely know more than a day or two ahead of time what you'll be doing, and even then the plans often change because of weather, traffic, breakdowns, schedule changes, and all sorts of stuff.
Your CSA score is basically a safety score. Anytime you get tickets or accidents it will affect that score.
Your DAC is anything that your previous companies would like to record about you and your performance. They can pretty much put anything they like on there, including piles of lies which indeed happens. I've had it happen to me a couple of times over the years but fortunately you can file a dispute to get anything off there that doesn't belong. To be honest, I don't know how this system is legal. Legally you're not supposed to be able to report anything about your former employees other than their start and end date. But this system seems to circumvent that somehow. I've never understood that, but that's how it goes.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
Some places just think they are above the law.....
I was interviewed for a diesel mechanic job in Fontana, Cali (no company names) lol 1st interview I "caught" when he mentioned hours 60-70 per week, 6 days. And NO O/T paid?? (hmmm ok I think to self...)
Called in for 2nd interview, the next week. Well the foreman proceeds to describe the job functions etc.
On the 1st interview I "caught" when he mentioned hours 60-70 per week, 6 days. And NO O/T paid?? ok I think to self... Company headquartered out of Tennesee.
So I ask him "ok you mentioned no O/T?? How do you get away with that?? lol He says "Oh I'm just saying what the company says. (now I really don't even want this job)
So, knowing California's labor laws I say well "In Calif the law says anything over 8 hours a day or 40 per week, IS O/T no matter where corporate is located, so no thanks. have a nice day"
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Happy thanksgiving guys thank you very much guys for helping me out a daily trucking life I'm new to trucking.
Some places just think they are above the law.....
I was interviewed for a diesel mechanic job in Fontana, Cali (no company names) lol 1st interview I "caught" when he mentioned hours 60-70 per week, 6 days. And NO O/T paid?? (hmmm ok I think to self...)
Called in for 2nd interview, the next week. Well the foreman proceeds to describe the job functions etc.
On the 1st interview I "caught" when he mentioned hours 60-70 per week, 6 days. And NO O/T paid?? ok I think to self... Company headquartered out of Tennesee.
So I ask him "ok you mentioned no O/T?? How do you get away with that?? lol He says "Oh I'm just saying what the company says. (now I really don't even want this job)
So, knowing California's labor laws I say well "In Calif the law says anything over 8 hours a day or 40 per week, IS O/T no matter where corporate is located, so no thanks. have a nice day"
Overtime laws are federally mandated in the Fair Labor Standards Act. Typically, mechanics, when hired by a motor carrier, are exempt from the standard 8 hour day/40 hour work week when determining OT.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Overtime laws are federally mandated in the Fair Labor Standards Act. Typically, mechanics, when hired by a motor carrier, are exempt from the standard 8 hour day/40 hour work week when determining OT.
Joe is correct there is an exemption in the FLSA for drivers, driver's helpers, loaders, and mechanics. That said, a place that's taking advantage of the exemption is not a great place to work.
Overtime laws are federally mandated in the Fair Labor Standards Act. Typically, mechanics, when hired by a motor carrier, are exempt from the standard 8 hour day/40 hour work week when determining OT.
Joe is correct there is an exemption in the FLSA for drivers, driver's helpers, loaders, and mechanics. That said, a place that's taking advantage of the exemption is not a great place to work.
Which mean you never want to drive a truck right?
Which mean you never want to drive a truck right?
Lol! Or a flat rate mechanic!
Seriously, if you can get on as a Subaru master technician and change head gaskets all day, do it! Head gaskets on those things pay 11 hours, and only take four hours for a knowledgeable tech to do. Twenty-two hours of pay in a 9 to 10 hour period more than makes up for not getting overtime.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Yep, that's what I've been since year 1 heavy line tech, in-frames on rigs, then automotive. Big $$ on customer pay jobs. Ford "used" to have the best warranty pay 
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Hello people on here wanted to ask some questions typical day when you wake up to go to sleep in trucking...
Can someone explain dac & csa scores also? Like what violations are on drivers & what goes to the company? Thank you
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.