? about dead heading and logs

"driving times means all the time spent at the driving controls of a commercial motor vehicle in operation" Sec 395.2
you need to get ya a copy of the FMCSA yes log that time.....

 

Find threds by LogsRus on this web-site.

 

unless its trailer to home for a few days i would log it.....trailer to trailer is on duty, driving time

 

You probably need to define "deadheading".

Assuming "deadheading" means your carrier directs you to ride with another of its' drivers to a different location to pick up a different tractor (this is the usual definition of deadheading) it is considered on-duty, not driving (line 4) UNLESS after you arrive at the location of the different tractor you take a complete 10-hour rest break; then the "deadhead" time may be considered off-duty.

If you consider "deadheading" as the other person in a team operation setting in the other (passenger) seat: anytime spent in the passenger seat is line 4.

If you consider "deadheading" as being dispatched with your tractor to a different location to get a different trailer: in this instance it is driving time (line 3) because you were under the control of the motor carrier. Any time you are under the control of the carrier is driving time.

The only time it may be considered as off duty (personal time) is if you are not under the control of the carrier e.g. you were released from duty to go home. Essentially you may only log "deadheading" as off duty if you were using the vehicle (tractor only.......no trailer........bobtailing) for the same purpose as a personal automobile..........from the office to home. If you were taking a trailer home with you it is considered as under the control of the carrier and subsequently line 3, because the only reasonable reason you would have a trailer going home is while you were under dispatch for your next movement and merely going to take your rest at home on line 1, and then continue your dispatched move. But I must also question and suggest being as you are an independent contractor that this does not make a lot of sense in this economy because you must pay taxes on the personal miles driven under the IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) on all miles driven, even if the use of the tractor is for personal reasons. Under the IFTA all odometer readings must be successive. In other words; the ending odometer reading today is the beginning tomorrow etc. If the odometer readings are not successive you and/or the carrier may be fined by the IFTA taxation people from the state you didn't show successive odometer readings.

From a retired federal DOT official

 

It's really not as complicated as all that. Deadheading is moving that tractor and pulling an empty trailer. Yes you need to log it as driving. Moving that tractor without the trailer is bobtailing and yes you need to log it as driving. Just log it to be safe and no "DOT official" will ever be able to write you any safe driving awards. If you move the truck, LOG IT.