Passenger Rides

I know a few truckers that their husband drives and the wife is a freight broker you could look into that it can bring in extra income and can be done from about anywhere as long as you have a cell phone

 

One stupid rule....FMCSA has and periodically people get nailed on it.
You are not allowed any unauthorized passengers even if you own the rig and your name is on the title.

Here is the relevant section:

FMCSA 392.60...
Unauthorized persons not to be transported.

(a) Unless specifically authorized in writing to do so by the motor carrier under whose authority the commercial motor vehicle is being operated, no driver shall transport any person or permit any person to be transported on any commercial motor vehicle other than a bus. When such authorization is issued, it shall state the name of the person to be transported, the points where the transportation is to begin and end, and the date upon which such authority expires.

No written authorization, however, shall be necessary for the transportation of:
(1) Employees or other persons assigned to a commercial motor vehicle by a motor carrier;
(2) Any person transported when aid is being rendered in case of an accident or other emergency;
(3) An attendant delegated to care for livestock.


So? - Write up a letter saying that your company gives the driver permission to carry passenger so-and-so and date it or make it continuous. My wife's name is on the passenger door and legally I am still required to have this paper in the rig.

Takes 2mins to do, whether or not you agree with it, just do it and stash it with in the truck permit folder.
This way, if it EVER comes up at DOT scale/inspection...you are COVERED.

If your significant other is leased, get a copy from the lease company saying they permit it, since your running under their MC.

PS. This actually came up during my New Entry Audit 2yrs ago. The DOT officer said they randomly ask for this from truck drivers whenever a passenger (NON CDL especially) is on board. My wife is an employee of my company but it was still suggested to fill out this permission letter...

 

It seems to be a stupid rule but easy enough to comply with.....I laughed when I heard this but the DOT officer wasn't laughing.
They seem to be lacking some sort of sense of humor I think...

 

If you have your own authority and own the truck, do you still need to have it in writing? You are the motor carrier, after all.

 

Yes. The law is crystal clear on that (NOT!) ......I am the MC but I am also a driver technically.
I have to follow the rules (no matter how insipid) for large carriers even though I am my own entity...

So, I wrote up a policy and stuck it in the rig. Took 5mins....and why not?!

 

My understanding of this is that although you are required to have authorized passengers in writing, there is no requirement that the authorization be kept on the truck.

It can be in a file cabinet back at your office and they have no way of proving if it is there or not.

Having said that, I see no reason not to have a copy with you on the truck though.

 

Why not learn to drive yourself?

 

This regulation was brought to my attention recently by a friendly OR DOT officer. One of my drivers was allowed the pleasure of a level one inspection over Memorial Day, his wife rides with him all the time, first time anybody has made an issue, but it made the inspection report. I had checked with my insurance company at first to see if they had any requirements, they said no so assumed we were good to go....