Truck Driving Log Book Rules

Trucking laws and regulations require commercial drivers to meticulously track their activities to prevent serious accidents on major highways like the Dan Ryan Expressway. If a driver has failed to follow truck driving log book rules, we can prove negligence and ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable for the crash. Contact us today for a free consultation about your legal rights after a truck crash.

When Are Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) Required?

Electronic logging devices were mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration starting in December 2017. These logbooks are harder for truck drivers to falsify, preventing companies from hiding hours-of-service (HOS) violations or missing pre-trip inspections.

Commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight restriction over 10,001 pounds, transporting hazardous materials, or carrying more than 8 passengers must use electronic documentation of their hours of driving and total miles driven (49 CFR Part 395 Subpart B).

The primary purpose of electronic logging devices in the trucking industry is to ensure compliance with hours-of-service (HOS) regulations (49 CFR Part 395). FMCSA regulations state that drivers must limit their driving hours to prevent excessive fatigue. The HOS rules are as follows for drivers hauling cargo.

Driving Hours: Drivers may complete only 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

14-Hour Limit: Drivers cannot continue driving after 14 hours of consecutive on-duty time. Rest breaks or off-duty time do not extend this time.

Rest Periods: After eight hours of driving time, truck drivers must take a 30-minute break.

60/70 Rule: Drivers must not drive after 60 hours of service in seven days, or 70 hours in eight days. They then must take at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.

Sleeper Berth: Drivers can split their 10 hours off-duty time into two periods, but at least 7 hours must be spent in the sleeper berth.

There are exceptions for drivers who remain entirely within state lines or who do not drive more than 150 air miles from their primary work location, but they must request the exception.

Illinois has adopted the FMCSA regulations applicable to drivers within its jurisdiction (625 ILCS 5/18b-105), except for certain exceptions. Drivers within the state who are transporting fewer than 15 employees may work up to 12 hours per day, 15 hours of on-duty time, and 70 hours per week (625 ILCS 5/18b-106.1).

When Are Paper Logs Allowed?

Staying compliant with these rules is essential for road safety, but certain operators may be permitted to continue using paper logs.

Short Haul and Driving Hours Exception

Commercial drivers working within a 150-air-mile radius of their primary location may claim an exception to the electronic log rule. Drivers who complete their shipment and return to the depot within 14 hours may also use a paper log to record their trip.

8-Day Rule

Drivers who maintain a log sheet for no more than eight days within a 30-day period may continue to use paper logbooks. However, they are still required to comply with HOS regulations.

Vehicle Age

Trucks manufactured before 2000, as evidenced by the engine’s VIN, are exempt from electronic documentation requirements.

Basic Rules for Interstate Commerce Vehicles

Drivers must keep their logbook current with the last change in duty status, such as when moving from off-duty to on-duty status. Each entry must include the following information:

• Date
• Total miles driven
• Commercial vehicle ID
• Motor carrier name and address
• Driver signature and certification
• 24-hour period starting time
• Shipping documentation (49 CFR Part 395).

There are four duty statuses, and a driver must identify the status when they move between them.

Off-Duty is when the driver is relieved of all duties, such as when they are at home or in a hotel. They are prohibited from performing any work-related tasks during this period. However, some employers may pressure their drivers to perform vehicle maintenance or inspections.

Sleeper Berth status means they are resting or waiting at a receiver. The driver must remain in their berth for at least seven hours, whether sleeping or engaging in downtime.

Driving hours are the periods during which the driver operates the vehicle. On Duty Not Driving means they are inspecting, loading, fueling, completing paperwork, or any other responsibility not performed behind the wheel.

Record Keeping Requirements

Truck drivers must retain their time records for the previous seven days and provide them to enforcement authorities if asked. The employer must receive each entry within 13 days of the end of the 24-hour period.

Supporting documentation includes items such as fuel receipts, toll receipts, bills of lading, and invoices related to the driver’s work, including hotel reservations. These must be consistent with the logbook to confirm locations, dates, and times.

Their employer must retain all records, including logbooks and supporting documentation, for at least six months. If there are any errors, these must be quickly corrected, and the error must be identified.

Why Log Book and Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance Matters in Chicago Commercial Motor Vehicle Accident Cases

Companies may attempt to disregard the trucking hours-of-service regulations to meet quotas and expedite deliveries. However, excessive driver fatigue is a common cause of serious accidents, particularly in crowded urban conditions, such as along the Eden Expressway.

A tired driver has slower reaction times, poorer judgment, and decreased focus. This can cause them to make simple errors, such as failing to signal a lane change or failing to yield (9-24-070). While dangerous in a passenger vehicle, this could lead to catastrophic injuries or wrongful death when combined with the weight and speed of a commercial vehicle.

Our Chicago trucking accident lawyers will subpoena the driver’s electronic logging devices and examine all available logbooks to identify discrepancies that may suggest falsified recordkeeping. For example, if the logbook records that the driver spent 10 hours off duty, but there is a fuel receipt for the O’Hare Oasis during that period, this indicates the driver was not resting as required.

We will use this evidence to demonstrate that the driver was negligent, but also that their employer prioritized delivery over public safety. According to the Illinois Supreme Court case McQueen v. Green, employers may be held liable, both vicariously and directly, for negligence in truck-crash cases. This would mean they are vicariously liable for their driver’s unsafe driving practices, and that they either failed to supervise their employees or even encouraged them to break the law.

Another common factor in logbook issues is that the FMCSA permits drivers to extend their driving time under adverse conditions, such as when they must stop and wait for a snowstorm to pass along Lake Michigan (49 CFR Part 395). Employers may exploit this by claiming there were adverse conditions, thereby pressuring their drivers to continue. We can use contemporaneous evidence, such as weather reports, witness statements, and dashcam footage, to demonstrate that this was not true.

Our team will consult with expert witnesses who can explain trucking industry regulations and the impact of fatigue on driver decisions, ensuring that a judge and jury recognize the gravity of non-compliance. This provides our team with a stronger negotiating position and increases your chance of recovering full compensation.

The Illinois personal injury statute of limitations is two years after the date of the accident (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Due to the complexity of truck accident cases, particularly the need to thoroughly investigate logbooks, you must contact a skilled attorney as soon as possible. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no out-of-pocket legal expenses to cover.

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You pay nothing unless we win, thanks to our contingency fee model. Contact our caring commercial accident attorneys today for a free consultation about your legal rights.