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Truck Accidents

Manipulating trucking logs can cause serious injuries

Posted Oct 12, 2018 by Matt Boulton

When a truck driver is on the job, he or she is meant to fill out a daily trucking log. This log identifies things like when he or she slept, took breaks and completed jobs.

The log is an important part of the job, not only because it’s tracking the individual’s hours, but also because it can show that he or she is abiding by the federal regulations. Federal regulations restrict how long a person can drive without stopping to take a break or getting sleep.

Some logs are now in electric versions, identified as e-logs. These are common, but there are still a lot of people using paper logs. These are easier to manipulate, which may be why some truck drivers get into accidents. In order to cut time off their trips, they may go without rest or breaks. That means they’re more dangerous for everyone else on the road, though.

Trucking logs are supposed to be completed daily. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) likes to see people fill out logs and to keep them current through the last duty change. Failing to do that, the Department of Transportation (DOT) officer could penalize the driver.

Manipulating logs isn’t allowed. For example, writing in a way that makes it impossible to read the log could allow it to be manipulated, and that’s not okay. The log has to be legible. The log also has to be turned in within 13 days, which makes it harder to manipulate trips in the past. Many carriers have to turn in logs sooner than that.

These are just a few facts about trucking logs. They could be important evidence after a crash, which is why they need to be up to date.

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Source: The Balance, “How to Fill Out a Paper Daily Truck Drivers Log,” Holly Schubert, accessed Dec. 06, 2017

Matt Boulton

Author Matt Boulton

Attorney Matt Boulton is an award-winning personal injury attorney with more than 25 years of experience helping seriously injured people throughout Indiana. He designed his firm for the client who expects exceptional service and passionate, successful legal representation.

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