Fines Question

[JDD]

Could I get some examples of punishment when a truck driver breaks the rules. For example what is the punishment for being over on logs. I have heard everything from 10 hours down to large fines. The same thing for overweight violations. I have heard everything from a few hundred to several thousand for being a small amount over weight. Could I get some examples of infractions and punishments. Thanks

[prezars]

I was talking to one of our drivers last week and he told me that he got a logbook violation in Arizona last year and the fine was pretty big, he wouldnt tell me the amount but he did say that it was worth a couple of weeks paychecks.

[Dirtball]

Company I used to drive for before I retired used to actually have an account set up with Virginia because we always got over axle weight tickets with every load we pulled for some strange reason.These the company paid and we were allowed to run even after we got the ticket. Now I got an over gross load ticket ( company paid that one) in Maryland on I-70.They put me out of service till the company paid the fine and sent me another tractor..I think the dispatcher caught Heck over that one since I told him I thought it was over weight before I left and he said the bills said this so run it.I did and they paid.I was lucky because I told the story to the weigh master and he said well you just got out of that ticket.I still owe a $38.00 over gross weight ticket that I refuse to pay because how can you be 4800 lbs over gross with an empti flat bed trailer? I got this ticket back in 1973 and to this day never heard anything about it.I got that ticket in Lodi Ohio. I was also put out of service once for break adjustment on steering axle. but the let me take the truck to the terminal since I was only about five miles away.No ticket for me but the company got one.I got nailed once on the Pa turnpike at the 100mm for speeding and the trooper lookerd at my log book and said i wasn't filling it out properly. I didn't used to show PTI and he asked me about it and I told him I didn't get paid for it so I wasn't gonna show it even though I did one but he said since all my log books were consistint he would let me off with a verbal warning.I showed the words PTI everytime I started and finished and each time I switched trailers.Thet fine could have been $500.00 he said. I too have heard war storys about guys getting outragious fines but I never saw one.Were they lying?To be honest I will never know.I do know that most of the time it is the drivers attitude that gets them in trouble..Don't go to the trooper or weigh master with a hot head because that is almost guaranteed a ticket.

[otrpetercar777]

Even though drivers are all bound by the Federal Rules and Regulations the states have complete control over the costs of the fines, there is no set guide lines. For over weight fines somes states have a base fine we will say $100 for over weight then they will charge you per pound, from a nickle to a dollar a pound. Louisianna use to be a dollar a pound. Heres the kicker lets say your over gross there is a fine then they start to axle you out and you are over per axle then there is another fine, it really starts to add up, your company is not resposilbe for this you are!!!!!!! So I would highly suggest you learn how and why you slide your axles and fifth wheel and how to properly load a trailer!!!!! As far as log book fines they are pretty steep! IF you are over on hours they will sometimes let you fix it if it a honest mistake! If you are way off they will shut you down for ten hours or until your log book is legal. The only time that I was was shut down was 6 years ago in AZ it cost me $350 if I remember right and I was shut down for 8 hours.