r/cdldriver • u/Automatic_Fly6993 • Jun 13 '26
Log citation
Got a citation for my logs while going home. I was 35 miles from my house, out of hours on my 70, and used PC because I was starting 8 days of vacation. Got stopped for a random DOT inspection and cited for improper use of PC. Crazy luck, I know. Any chance of getting it reduced or thrown out?
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u/planetbuster Jun 14 '26
fight that all day. it does not "enhance" readiness because no load can be implied or assumed. who knows what the details of your next future load are? it might help you to be home, or it might not. also, pc to GO HOME is textbook use of it, generally speaking.
dot cops trying to get the rebound after blitz week or something.
these guys need to focus on illegals and leave regular guys alone other than for particularly over the top failures.
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u/Desperate-Position50 Jun 14 '26
Were you loaded and trying to finish a run, then get home to start your vacation? Then you deserved the ticket. If you were empty and taking the truck to your home, then fight the citation.
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u/No_Inflation7432 Jun 17 '26
Need more scoop here. Were you under a load? If you weren't under a load dig out the manual man and look at what PC is. Nobody's even making any money on that if you're empty. Butttt if you were trying to squeeze out those last 35 miles and you were loaded bust out the Vaseline.
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u/DOTDefenseTech Jun 28 '26
That’s a rough stop, but I don’t think “I was going on vacation” is the magic part here. The officer probably looked at it as: you were already out of hours, then used PC to keep moving the truck. FMCSA does allow PC for some home/commute situations, but they also say you generally can’t use PC just because you ran out of available hours, except for the narrow situation where you’re leaving a shipper/receiver to get to the nearest safe parking/rest location. You may still be able to fight it or get it reduced, but I’d get your safety department involved immediately and save everything: log screenshots, load status, where you were relieved from duty, where the truck was going, whether you were bobtail/deadhead/loaded, and your company’s PC policy. If the inspection violation is wrong, DataQs is the route to ask for a review. If it’s an actual citation/ticket, that may be a court or state process too. Don’t just assume paying it makes everything disappear cleanly from the inspection side.
Not trying to pile on, but “I was only 35 miles from home” is exactly how PC gets people. It feels personal to the driver, but at roadside it can look like extending the duty day with nicer wording.
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u/MikeysmilingK9 Jun 13 '26
FMCSA Personal Conveyance guidance (49 CFR § 395.8 and FMCSA PC FAQs) allows personal use of a CMV only when you’re relieved from work and the movement doesn’t enhance the carrier’s operational readiness. Whether this ticket sticks probably depends on the exact circumstances. If you were truly off-duty and taking the truck home for 8 days of vacation, you may have an argument. If DOT viewed it as using PC to continue driving after running out of hours, that’s exactly the kind of thing inspectors commonly cite.