To: All Drivers
From:
Re: Logging Off-Duty / Fatigue
Well, it looks like the busy season upon us (as if you didn’t already know!).
I realize many of you are trying to log off as much time as possible in order to have maximum availability to work. I just want to emphasize that if you DO log “off-duty, not driving” in the middle of your day, you should not be anywhere near the motor coach.
If a DOT inspector appears while you are parked, seated in your coach, reading a good book, you will be fined for logging off-duty in your logbook. You can only log off-duty if you shut down the bus, leave it and have no responsibilities for the motor coach or customer. You have to physically leave the motor coach.
This is just a heads-up for those who do not know. Some conflicting information has been heard in the drivers’ room.
Additionally, as safety is of paramount concern to me, you need to know that there is a direct correlation between excessive hours worked and your level of fatigue. The 70-hour limit established by the DOT is to protect you and the general public from accidents. With creative logging, one could possibly end up working 70+ hours a week. You might earn more money; yet, you will potentially have a slower reaction time and greatly increase your chances for an accident. As you know, too many accident points could lead to (as the company puts it) disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Please stay alert. As
you all know, the driving conditions around here are very challenging. Be rested and maintain high levels of
concentration as you negotiate around this metropolitan area. We all have to maneuver these buses through
high-density traffic patterns with erratic drivers, thousands of pedestrians,
bicyclists, traffic jams, etc. It
certainly is not like the open roads of
Please, be very careful about fatigue!
Sincerely,
Paul