On this page
- What Information Is in a Truck Driver Logbook?
- Why Are Driving Hours Recorded?
- Are Truck Driver Logbooks Still Written on Paper?
- Can Truck Driver Logs Be Changed?
- What Can Be Compared With a Driver's Logbook?
- Can a Logbook Prove a Driver Was Tired?
- How Long Can Driver Logs Be Important?
- Why Does It Matter After an Accident?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Driver Logbooks
For years, drivers commonly kept these records using paper logbooks. Today, many commercial drivers who are required to maintain records of duty status use an electronic logging device (ELD) instead.
Whether the record is electronic or, when permitted, on paper, the basic purpose is similar: creating a record of the driver's duty status that can be used to determine whether applicable hours-of-service requirements were followed.
After a serious truck accident, these records may become useful because they can help investigators understand what the driver was doing in the hours or days leading up to the collision.
What Information Is in a Truck Driver Logbook?
A driver's record of duty status can contain information about different parts of the driver's day.
Four important duty-status categories are:
- Off duty
- Sleeper berth
- Driving
- On duty, not driving
These categories are important because a commercial driver's workday includes more than simply driving the truck.
For example, a driver may spend time inspecting a truck, handling paperwork, loading or unloading cargo, or performing other work without actually driving. That time can still be relevant when reviewing the driver's overall work schedule.
Other identifying information may also be associated with the driver's records, including dates, locations, vehicle information, carrier information, and other details required by applicable regulations.
Why Are Driving Hours Recorded?
Commercial truck drivers can spend long periods on the road, so federal hours-of-service rules place limits on the driving and working time of covered drivers.
For example, under the general federal rules for covered property-carrying drivers, a driver may drive for up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
There is also a 14-hour driving window. Generally, after a driver comes on duty following 10 consecutive hours off, the driver may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour.
Covered drivers are also generally required to take a 30-minute break after eight cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute qualifying interruption.
There are exceptions and special rules that can apply, so these limits should not automatically be applied to every driver or trucking operation.
The logbook helps create a record that can be reviewed to determine whether the rules applicable to that particular driver were followed.
Are Truck Driver Logbooks Still Written on Paper?
Sometimes, but electronic logging is now common.
Many drivers who are required to maintain records of duty status must use an ELD. An ELD connects with the commercial vehicle's engine and automatically records certain information, including vehicle movement.
However, not every commercial driver is required to use an ELD.
Certain exceptions can apply, including some short-haul operations, certain drive-away-tow-away operations, drivers operating qualifying older vehicles, and drivers who are only required to use paper records for a limited number of days.
Because of those exceptions, investigators should first determine what recordkeeping requirements actually applied to the driver rather than assuming every commercial driver was required to use an ELD.
Can Truck Driver Logs Be Changed?
Electronic records can sometimes be edited or annotated, but that does not mean information can simply be changed without a record of what occurred.
ELD systems are designed to preserve information about edits and annotations. Drivers generally must review certain changes made to their records, and the original information is not supposed to simply disappear because an edit was made.
This can become important during an investigation.
If a record contains an edit, investigators may want to understand what was changed, when it was changed, who made the change, and why.
At the same time, an edited log should not automatically be treated as evidence of wrongdoing. A driver may need to correct an error or add information for a legitimate reason.
The circumstances surrounding the change matter.
What Can Be Compared With a Driver's Logbook?
A logbook does not necessarily have to be examined by itself.
Commercial trucking operations can create other records that may help investigators understand or verify a driver's timeline.
Depending on the circumstances, those records could include:
- Dispatch records
- Bills of lading
- Trip documents
- Fuel or expense receipts
- Electronic fleet communications
- GPS or telematics information
- Payroll or settlement records
- Inspection documents
- Delivery information
For example, imagine a driver's log shows the driver was at one location at a certain time, while another business record appears to place the truck somewhere else.
That difference would not automatically prove that the driver did anything wrong. It could, however, give investigators a reason to examine the records more closely.
Comparing several independent sources can help establish a more reliable timeline.
Can a Logbook Prove a Driver Was Tired?
Not by itself.
A driver's logbook can show recorded driving, working, and rest periods. That information may become relevant when investigators are considering whether fatigue could have played a role in an accident.
However, a logbook cannot directly tell investigators whether someone felt tired.
A driver could technically be within the applicable hours-of-service limits and still experience fatigue for other reasons. Likewise, identifying a possible hours-of-service violation does not automatically establish that fatigue caused the collision.
The records have to be considered along with the rest of the evidence.
How Long Can Driver Logs Be Important?
Federal record-retention requirements make timing important when electronic trucking evidence may be relevant.
Motor carriers generally must retain required ELD records of duty status and supporting documents for six months. Required backup copies of ELD records are also generally retained for six months.
That does not mean every piece of evidence related to a trucking accident disappears after six months. Different records can have different retention requirements or business practices.
It does mean that identifying and preserving potentially relevant trucking information can be an important part of investigating a serious collision.
Why Does It Matter After an Accident?
After an 18-wheeler accident, a driver's logbook may help investigators reconstruct the driver's work and driving schedule before the collision.
Investigators may compare the driver's records with ELD data, dispatch communications, GPS information, shipping documents, receipts, photographs, witness statements, police information, and other evidence.
The goal is not simply to find a technical mistake in a logbook. The larger question is whether the information helps explain what happened and whether it has any meaningful connection to the accident.
At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, we can examine a truck driver's available logs along with other commercial trucking records when investigating a serious Louisiana truck accident. We may compare those records with dispatch information, electronic data, shipping documents, and other evidence to help establish a timeline and understand what the driver and trucking operation were doing before the collision.
If the records do not match, we can investigate why. If they do match, they can still help us better understand the events leading up to the crash. Either way, the goal is to follow the evidence rather than assume what happened.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Driver Logbooks
What is a truck driver logbook used for?
A truck driver logbook records a commercial driver's duty status, including driving time, on-duty time, off-duty time, and sleeper-berth time. For covered drivers, these records help document compliance with applicable hours-of-service requirements.
Do truck drivers still use paper logbooks?
Some do, but many drivers who are required to maintain records of duty status must now use electronic logging devices. Certain drivers and operations qualify for exceptions that may allow paper records.
Can a truck driver's logbook show that the driver was speeding?
A logbook is primarily intended to document the driver's duty status and driving time, not establish vehicle speed. Other electronic vehicle systems, GPS or telematics information, or other evidence may contain information relevant to speed.
Can a truck driver change an electronic log?
Certain edits and annotations can be made under the ELD rules, but electronic systems maintain information about changes. An edit does not automatically indicate wrongdoing because legitimate corrections may be necessary.
Why would we examine a driver's log after an accident?
At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, we may examine driver logs to help understand the driver's timeline before a serious truck collision. We can compare the log with other available records and evidence to determine whether the information is consistent and whether it helps explain how the accident occurred.
This article is general information about Louisiana law and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines can change, and every case depends on its own facts. Past results do not guarantee or predict future outcomes. Reading this page or contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.
