The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) governs the rules that trucking companies and truck drivers must live by when on the roads of the United States. These laws apply to all truck drivers, even those in the Lehigh Valley. The trucking log is an important legal document that truck drivers must complete regularly. It is illegal to falsify one of these documents.
There are four main components of a trucking log that appear on every page: off duty, sleeping berth, driving and on duty (not driving). The driver is required to complete the log with each trip and do so honestly and accurately. This document is a legal document, so much so that the driver must sign it at the bottom. There is even a little note that states the following:
“The driver’s signature certifies that all entries required by this section made by the driver are true and correct.”
When the driver signs the log, he or she is doing so under oath. So, if there is an error on the log, even an insignificant one, the driver basically lied under oath like doing so in a court of law or during a deposition.
A paragraph from the legislation about errors on the log states the following:
“Failure to complete the record of duty activities of this section or § 395.15, failure to preserve a record of such duty activities, or making of false reports in connection with such duty activities shall make the driver and/or the carrier liable to prosecution.”
More and more trucking companies are getting away from paper logs and moving towards technology. The companies are using electronic on-board recorders (EOBR) to record the driving times of their employees. This makes it more difficult to falsify the records.
An experienced Easton truck accidents attorney will be able to answer all of your questions about falsifying a trucking log and how it can be used to aid in your case in a court of law.
