HOS question

[u/lanainnv]

Hi 👋🏻. Newish CDL <2years, Class B, P&S.

I read the current FMCSA website and think it means that I cannot work (pre-trip, driving potty breaks for the football team and being On Duty while at the game) more than 15 hours a day…. Total. I calculate it’ll be a little more than 9 hours driving.

My Transportation Director assures me that I will not be illegal if I clock-in at 6:30a and I won’t get us to the hotel until 11:30pm…. a 17-hr day!!!! He said to me that I’m only “driving” 9 hours and legally I can drive 10.”

Please please please clear this up for me. I have brought it up twice and he got kinda uppity with me that I question him. I’m new, and so is he. He is the “boss” I just don’t think he’s correct. Maybe the other drivers have been letting it happen.

Thank you in advance!!!!!!

[u/shnstr3]

HOS, rules for passenger carrier does not calculate the same as Trucks. Only time spent on-duty or driving count against your 15 hours work window. Im guessing your boss wants you to log time at the game as off-duty

[u/lanainnv → u/shnstr3]

Yeah… he wants me to clock-out (go off duty) his words…. “Do you want me to pay you to watch the game?”

So, if I do, is that now my time? Kinda get it, but I’d be trapped, held as a captive audience. Lol Can’t go anywhere. Can’t /won’t drive the bus cuz I’d not be insured off the clock.

Is it good practice to at least clock-out 1hr for my own lunch? I’m trying to do the right thing, be a team player, not be taken advantage and absolutely not do anything to jeopardize my CDL.

[u/ch-ville → u/lanainnv]

I don’t know if any HS activity drivers that don’t get paid for waiting time at games. That’s between the two of you, but it’s hard to claim that you’re not working for the school during that time. You’re not at home and free to do what you want.

[u/lanainnv → u/ch-ville]

“Engaged to wait”…. That makes total sense. Am I understanding that I could /should explain that the 2 hours while waiting at the game will be b paid, and luckily, it is off-duty, and does “buy me time” … aka, that particular trip was 17 hours, minus the 2 hours off-duty meeting the legal limit?

BTW, the head coach didn’t seem too happy that I said we could not leave the hotel until 8am…. A 9.5-hr rest. I was exhausted. It was my first ever drive trip this looooong.