A record of duty status outlines what a driver’s status was throughout the previous 24 hours. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires the report and stipulates what drivers must include.
The report can also be known as the driver’s log and includes important information about the driving totals, including miles driven and status throughout the day.
Avoid violations, fines, and administrative headaches by ensuring that your record of duty status includes all required information.
Record of Duty Status Explained
Drivers use an FMCSA-approved electronic logging device (ELD) to record the required information during their transportation of goods. As the driver goes from on duty to off duty or stops to take a required 30-minute break, they will update their status within the application and the ELD will also record what the vehicle was doing at that time.
Within the record of duty status, drivers must log the following information:
- Date
- Vehicle number
- Total driving hours
- Total miles driven in the 24 hours logged
- Carrier’s name
- Starting time for the 24-hour period
- Address
- Driver’s certification or signature
- Remarks, when necessary
Who Must Keep Record of Duty Status?
Commercial vehicle drivers must keep a record of duty status. However, there is an exception for short-haul drivers. Drivers who transport goods within a 150-air-mile radius are exempt from submitting a record of duty status under FMCSA 49 CFR 395.1 (e)(1).
Additionally, drivers carrying goods in a vehicle that does not require a CDL to operate and remain within the 150-air-mile radius are also exempt from the record of duty status requirements under FMCSA 49 CFR 395.1 (e)(2).
What Time Zone Do Your Records of Duty Logs Show?
A driver’s record of duty log should use the time standard for that driver’s home terminal. This means that if you drive across different time zones during the reporting period, you’ll keep your logs within the time zone you started in. You’ll find greater detail in 49 CFR 395.8.
How Many Duty Statuses Are There in Logbooks?
There is four driver record of duty status form options in logbooks.
- Off Duty: This means the driver is relieved of all duties and responsibilities. Their vehicle is parked and they are not inspecting or otherwise preparing for their next haul.
- Sleeper Berth: This is when the driver is resting in the sleeper berth, which is an important status to meet requirements to continue driving and reset the 24-hour period.
- Driving: This is when the trucker is hauling the goods.
- On-Duty Not Driving: This can cover a variety of paid activities for your employer, including loading, unloading, inspection, attending to your truck, fueling, and filling out paperwork.
How Do You Make a DOT Log?
ELDs have made paper logbooks obsolete. But truck drivers still need to update their status within apps to match the logs the ELD is automatically making. The driver will change their status in the app to reflect one of the four options. This is often as simple as a few clicks. Your software can then save these 24-hour logs for reference in case of a DOT inspection.
Can CDL Drivers Still Use Paper Logs?
With the ELD mandate that took effect in December 2017, most drivers now must use electronic logs. However, drivers of vehicles made before 2000 can still use paper logs since these vehicles are not compatible with compliant ELDs.
How You Can Avoid Record of Duty Status Violations
Failing to keep a record of duty status properly, which can include omitting information, recording incomplete information, or falsifying information could be subject to fines of $1,388 per day up to $13,885. Learn how to avoid violations to reduce the chances of facing these fines.
Clerical Errors
ELDs and the accompanying software have reduced clerical errors because they do much of the work for truck drivers. However, you’ll still need to ensure that your information is correct in the app and avoid issues with spelling or omitting crucial data to avoid a record of duty violations.
Previously, poor handwriting, spelling, and outdated logs caused problems for truck drivers. And while electronic filings are reducing those errors, drivers still need to do their part to ensure information is correct at all times.
Updates
When on duty, you have to do more than just drive a truck. There is administrative work involved. Regularly updating your status will ensure that you are compliant. Retroactive changes can challenge your memory of what you were doing every hour while on duty and many ELD software systems don’t allow altering driver status retroactively.
Access
The easier it is to update your duty status on your logs, the more likely you’ll be to ensure these records are up to date. And the easier access you have to these records, the simpler it will be for you at checkpoints or inspections.
ELD technology makes updating driver status simple. Make sure you’re selecting a high-quality device with accompanying technology that makes access to driver status updates fast, simple, and automated when possible.
Knowledge
Staying up to date on requirements from FMCSA is essential to avoiding violations. Claiming that you didn’t know the requirements or meant to update your status will not get you out of trouble with DOT.
Even non-ELD trucks might be required to log information related to RODS trucking. That’s because some older trucks made before the year 2000 are still on the road, requiring paper logbooks. And trucks driven more than 150-air-miles that don’t require a CDL might not be equipped with an ELD.
That does not mean that the driver does not have to abide by the record of status updates. Make sure you have the proper training on transportation requirements before hauling goods for payment.
Remain Compliant with Good Recordkeeping
Compliance with a record of duty status requirements means having good technology that makes updating duty status simple. Also, drivers need to stay up to date on reporting requirements because ignorance won’t get them out of a fine for failing to log required information.