Driver Form Violations are Easy to Avoid!
Attention all Carriers and Drivers!
As we enter the holiday season remember that when it comes to form & manner violations, the trailer number and bill-of-lading number need to be updated by the carrier prior to each hauled load.
Record of Duty
In the holiday busy season, it is important that you as a driver remember to update your daily log with accurate identification numbers. Every trailer has a unique ID number, and each bill of lading has a unique reference number. Drivers exchange trailers often when they are offering power only or are involved in drop-and-hook freight exchanges. In the holiday season, this can involve swapping equipment up to three times in the same day! Imagine juggling adverse weather conditions, traffic, mechanical failures, navigation, and appointment times as well. It is important as a driver to keep those logs updated within a well exercised routine.
49 CFR 395.8 requires commercial drivers to record their duty status in each 24-hour period. Information regarding the driver ID, miles driven, hours, as well as carrier & shipment documentation, are all required to be operating legally.
It is important to save the paperwork at the end of an exhausting shift, however, be sure to get into the habit of updating the information on the front end.
Driver form violations are easy to avoid
- A driver is only as reliable as their logs are accurate.
- Paperwork is as important as punctuality & handling.
Consequences
Form violations are the most common infractions of the hours-of-service violations among drivers. Yes, the penalties are not too severe, but why blemish your rating at all with tedious violations?
Multiple infractions have consequences for your company which can include:
- Having to pay a higher insurance premium
- Being under officer scrutiny.
TLI strongly advises drivers to update your record of duty status while your freight is being loaded to use your time as productively as possible. This will aid your pre-employment screening as well, as a bunch of form & manner violations signals an “I don’t care attitude” which can impact pay/mile or add wasted time to your busy schedule with additional mandatory training.
Conclusion
Drivers, we respect you and all the headaches you have to juggle. For this reason, we offer a friendly reminder to develop a routine to get your record of duty updated before hitting the road. While you’re waiting at the loading dock for your precious cargo to get loaded, please update the record of duty!
Drive safe & have a happy holiday!
If you are interested in being onboarded as an asset-based carrier with TLI, please be sure to provide additional information such as your MC# so we can provide you with lane opportunities.
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