Hotshot Connect Forum :: unhooked logging off duty question??

claude

I've heard that if you do not have a dot approved sleeper on your rig that you can get around the lack there of for sleeper time buy unhooking and pulling out from trailer at least 12'' and logging off duty. Now question is would that be fifth wheel 12'' from pin or rear of tow unit 12'' from front of trailer. And under what section of dot regs could I find this rule (hours of service?) or other.

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

I have heard about unhooking but have never seen anything in writing. I really doubt the validity of it. If you are sleeping in your truck and DOT catches you then you are caught.

claude

Yeah I've seen that get around posted before and thought that it made sense that if you were disconnected you might be able to pull that off but you might also find yourself in a pissing contest with dot. I'm gonna keep looking into it till I can find it in writing.

Gocart

Don't sleep on public property IE: rest areas etc. Sleep in truckstops, walmart etc those are pvt property and unless the facility invites them on the premises they can't come on and start a fuss. However, they can wait till you get off the premises and pull you over. I have seen them do that at the FlyJ in Knoxville.

sclyde

I have been doing that for a year and a half and haven't had any problems yet. Lately PA has been getting aggressive and demanding to know where you sleep and wanting motel receipts. So far I have escaped because when they have done it I had just been home the night before. I replaced my older truck with a quad cab and was thinking of putting a mattress in the back, so after talking to the officer the other day I pulled the seat out and built a platform and put a 6 1/2" thick foam mattress in. The problem is that I only have 67" of length without doing something to the doors and of course no restraint. Anyone with experience at what they do with this type of setup? I assume I should continue to log off duty and not sleeper since it isn't a DOT Compliant sleeper. How many questions do you have to answer when they start asking about where you sleep. I have a good safety rating, I passed the audit with a perfect score 0 (He found no violations) and have a overall safety rating of 30. The officer said that is the lowest he has ever seen for a new entrant. So I guess overall I am doing alright, but I don't want to start getting in trouble. Thanks