Trucking 101 –
Hours of Service

By Daryl Chappell

 

Operating within the FMCSR’s HOS rules is a foundational requirement for professional drivers. Therefore, we aren’t going to spend any time discussing the basics. If you need to brush up, you can find them at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/part/395, or reach for the green pocket version given to every driver at PAM. Instead, we’re going to discuss the importance of understanding and running your 70hr recap.

Two things in the trucking world that are as certain as death & taxes: 1) you don’t make money if the wheels aren’t rolling, and 2) this job is definitely a marathon, not a sprint. So, wouldn’t you want to set yourself up so you can run consistently instead of getting stuck with 34hr resets in the worst possible places? Because our log system is fully electronic and ELD Compliant, it already knows what hours you’ve used and how many are available.  Making sure ALL of your entries -including necessary edits- are correct is critical. If they aren’t, you can end up with a bit of a mess which can result in HOS violations, CSA points, involuntary 10hr breaks, 34hr restarts, or worse.

What is a recap? A recap is a summary of all hours worked in the last 8 days and how many hours you have remaining on your 70.

Why is this important to you? Being able to forecast your available hours lets you:

• Set more accurate and effective PTA’s
• Strategically plan your trips vs just “winging it”
• Prevent unplanned 34hr restarts
• Avoid the dreaded shutdown an hour from the house
• Communicate your capabilities with your operations team at a top tier level

Scenario 1

Today, I have 10 hours of recap to work with. Looking over the next three days, I will gain 5 hours of recap at midnight to work with tomorrow, then 2 hours the next day, followed by 14 hours in three days.  If I don’t already have a load, I might set my PTA for 18:00 tonight.

This way, I’ll only use 6 of my 10 hours for today, so the remaining 4 hours will roll over into tomorrow at midnight. The 4 hours rolling over tomorrow combined with the 5 hours I will gain in recap will give me 9 hours to work with tomorrow. I could deliver my load earlier, but I don’t have full hours.

However, as I plan my load, I will have just enough time to run for 6 hours tomorrow (with traffic patterns and congestion factored into my planning). The 3 hours I don’t use tomorrow will roll into the next day, and combined with the 2 hours I gain in recap that day I will have 5 hours to work with. That gives me enough hours to deliver my load on time, then find a place to explore and sleep until midnight, when I will gain 14 hours in recap to move forward.

Scenario 2

I’m due home in 4 days for an appointment. I’ve run my recap and know how many hours I will regain over the 4 day span.

I am dispatched on a load delivering in 2 days that follows the general direction to my home. However, after planning my trip, I realize the load puts me 2 hours farther from home than I have available, which would cause me to miss my appointment.

Because I was able to plan ahead, I can now notify my driver manager and give him/her the information they need to reach the planners and find an alternate load.

Healthy planning and communication allows PAM to meet my needs for home time, while also assuring the customers’ needs are met with safe and timely deliveries.

Tools of the trade

For years, I’ve used a spreadsheet to run HOS recaps. Now, there are smartphone apps you can use like Recap+, or you can run it old school with paper, pencil, and a calculator. However you decide to keep track of it, find one that works for you and make sure it’s accurate. If you do, you’ll be miles ahead of your peers.

**Note: The mention of Recap+ app should not be construed as a recommendation or endorsement of any kind.