"A good rule of thumb is if you’re trying to convince yourself that it’s not work, then it’s probably work.” - John Seidl, a former FMCSA enforcement official.
This means that you are not off-duty if you must perform chores or missions for the carrier. Just about anything a carrier directs you to do during your off-duty time is not personal conveyance. Picking up vehicle parts or dropping the vehicle off for maintenance.Driving to carrier headquarters after unloading.Delivering luggage after the passengers have disembarked.Driving a chartered bus with passengers to a restaurant or entertainment center.Pre-positioning a bobtailed truck so that it will be ready to load a trailer.Moving the CMV to improve operational readiness, such as bypassing an otherwise acceptable resting location or lodging to get closer to loading or unloading or other carrier preferred location.The following are examples of activities not considered personal conveyance: It is not personal conveyance when fleet says to pick up a needed vehicle part while you’re off-duty. However, when fleet management orders you to move the truck, that is not personal conveyance. Likewise, when an LEO orders you to move the truck. Movement of the CMV as directed by law enforcement (LE) or safety official.Authorized commuting to and from home when working at an offsite location.
Traveling to and from a “nearby, reasonable, safe location to obtain required rest after loading or unloading.” The use of personal conveyance must not deny the driver “restorative rest as to ensure the driver is not fatigued.”.Traveling from a hotel or truck stop to a restaurant or entertainment (cinema, bowling center, gym, etc.).Personal conveyance does not relieve the driver from operating the vehicle safely in accordance with FMCSA rules. However, there is a limit when using personal conveyance for commuting. The driver can use personal conveyance even while loaded when off-duty to find a hotel, a restaurant, go to the gym, or even to drive home. Drivers should be familiar with their company policies and procedures as long as they do not conflict with FMCSA HOS rules. Additionally, carriers can provide guidance to their drivers that permit certain aspects of the rules and restrict others. A driver may record time operating a CMV for personal conveyance as off-duty only when the driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work by the motor carrier.”Īlthough the FMCSA HOS personal conveyance rules apply to all CDL holders, not all carriers allow personal conveyance. According to the FMCSA hours of service (HOS) rules, “Personal conveyance is the movement of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal use while off-duty.