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Log Book Violations

Both federal and state law require commercial truck drivers to adhere to specific regulations regarding travel time and record keeping. Failing to follow these rules can have dire consequences, including life-threatening injuries, for which the negligent driver can be held responsible.

Federal Regulations

Federal law strictly regulates how many hours a commercial driver is permitted to drive. For instance, drivers transporting cargo can only drive for 11 hours after ten consecutive hours off duty. Other regulations concerning time limits include the following:

  • Drivers can only begin a shift if at least eight hours have passed since the end of a driver’s 30-minute rest break;
  • Truckers are not  permitted to drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days; and
  • Drivers cannot drive more than 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty.

To ensure that these rules are enforced, drivers are required to take detailed records in log books that include specific information, including:

  • The date;
  • Daily miles that were driven;
  • The vehicle number;
  • The carrier’s name;
  • The driver’s signature;
  • 24-hour starting times;
  • Shipping document numbers;
  • Completion of a grid that tracks travel in one-hour increments; and
  • Notations describing when the driver was on duty, on duty but not driving, and off duty.

The employers of commercial truck drivers must retain these records for at least six months. Additionally, drivers are required to carry a copy of their duty status records for the previous week and produce them when requested for inspection. Finally, drivers must give their original duty records to their employers within 13 days of completing them.

The information contained in log books can be critical to an injured party’s ability to demonstrate that a truck driver was negligent as these documents can reveal whether a driver has violated the hours of service rules. Drivers can also face criminal penalties, including hefty fines and probation if they falsify their log book records.

Contact An Experienced Kansas Truck Accident Attorney Today

Because commercial trucks are so much larger than standard vehicles, truck-related collisions tend to be especially serious. For this reason, the federal government carefully regulates drivers to ensure that they do not drive while fatigued. Unfortunately, not all drivers adhere to these regulations. If you were recently involved in a commercial truck-related crash, please contact the law firm of Neustrom & Associates by calling 785-825-1505 and we’ll help you set up a consultation with a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney.