Personal Conveyance: when to put on the brakes and when to keep truckin’
At Storey Trucking, we educate drivers on the proper use of personal conveyance (PC) to ensure compliance. Our experienced drivers are pros at following the guidelines set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For new and experienced truck drivers, it’s important to understand when PC can be used and when it cannot.
Some drivers use PC often and others do not. The most common reason for a driver to use PC is to move to a truck stop or safe haven after completing a delivery to a customer. Issues or conflicts that arise related to the use of PC include drivers not understanding the legal way to use PC, resulting in it not being used correctly, or trying to use PC to advance the load or advance toward their next load.
Pedro Bloodworth, director of safety at Storey Trucking, leads our safety initiatives and keeps new drivers properly educated on the use of PC. It’s Pedro’s job to ensure Storey Trucking and all its drivers stay compliant with Department of Transportation (DOT) and FMCSA regulations. He makes sure our drivers are vetted pre-hire and are continually trained to operate safely and to keep the motoring public safe.
With Pedro’s expertise, here’s what you should know about personal conveyance and how it should be used properly.
Cut to the Basics: What is Personal Conveyance?
To keep it simple, PC is the movement of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal use while off-duty. Our drivers may use PC when they are off-duty and need to move their CMV for personal reasons, such as commuting to and from home or for personal errands. Drivers may record time operating a CMV for PC as off-duty only when you are relieved from work.
Your CMV may be used for PC even if it is loaded, since the load is not being moved for the commercial benefit of the carrier. It's important to note that PC should be used sparingly and only when necessary.
PC falls in line with hours of service (HOS) guidelines, which all carriers like Storey and our drivers must comply with. HOS outlines the maximum amount of time drivers are permitted to be on duty, including driving time, and specifies number and length of rest periods, to help ensure that drivers stay awake and alert. PC allows you to deliver loads on time while being able to drive to access food, showers or entertainment such as a movie, without affecting your HOS clock.
FMCSA provides guidelines for when and how truck drivers can use PC and recommends using it only in situations where there are no other reasonable options available. According to FMCSA, PC can be used when:
· You are off duty.
· The movement of your vehicle is for personal reasons.
· The movement of your vehicle is not for the benefit of the carrier.
For example, you may use PC to drive to a nearby restaurant or hotel for personal reasons while you are off duty. However, if you are using PC to move your vehicle to a different location to begin your next shift, that would not be considered PC.
When you may appropriately use PC:
1. Traveling to a nearby, reasonable, safe location for required rest after loading or unloading.
2. Moving your CMV at the request of a safety official during your off-duty time.
3. Traveling from your lodging (such as a motel or truck stop) to restaurants and entertainment facilities.
Additionally, according to the FMCSA:
· PC must be in compliance with local laws and ordinances: The use of the CMV for PC must be legal and comply with all state and local laws.
· You must be able to produce supporting documents: If requested, you must be able to produce documents that support the reason for the PC, such as a hotel receipt or a personal credit card statement.
Storey Trucking, like all carriers, is required to have a policy in place outlining when and how PC can be used, and our drivers must document their use of PC in their logs. The policy can align with FMCSA guidance or be more restrictive, but carriers are responsible for monitoring use of PC.
What is the FMCSA?
The FMSCA is a division of the U.S. DOT that regulates and enforces safety regulations for CMVs and trucking companies. The FMCSA's mission is to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths involving large trucks and buses. Some of its responsibilities include developing and enforcing safety regulations, conducting research to improve motor carrier safety, providing educational resources to the public and overseeing commercial driver licensing. FMCSA provides a recorded presentation with an overview on revised PC guidance.
FAQ on PC:
May a driver, who drops his or her last load at a receiver’s facility use PC to return to their normal work location (i.e. home or terminal?)
No. Returning home or to the terminal from a dispatched trip is a continuation of the trip and is not PC.
The guidance allows for “authorized use of a CMV to travel home after working at an offsite location.” What is meant by “offsite”?
The term refers to a location, other than a carrier’s terminal or a shipper’s or receiver’s facility, where a driver works for a temporary period for a job. Specifically, this term is intended for construction and utility companies that set up base camps near a major job and operate from there for days or weeks at a time. These remote locations are considered “offsite” locations. Therefore, travel between home and that offsite location is considered commuting time and qualifies as PC.
Is PC treated any differently when the driver is hauling hazardous materials?
No. There is no restriction on PC regarding hazardous materials transportation, provided that the driver complies with provisions of 49 CFR parts 177 and 397.
Can a driver who claims the short haul exception use PC?
Yes, there is no connection between PC and the short-haul exception. As always, off duty time does not extend the 12-hour duty time limitation.
How is PC time calculated in the HOS rules?
Time spent under PC is off-duty time.
May a driver use PC when you run out of available (driving/on-duty) hours?
No, except for the one exception described in the guidance where a driver who runs out of hours while at a shipper’s or receiver’s facility may drive from that facility to a nearby, safe location to park, provided that the driver allows adequate time to rest in accordance with daily minimum off-duty periods under the HOS rules before beginning to drive. PC is those times where a driver is operating solely for a non-business purpose and cannot be used to extend the duty day.
Are there maximum distance time or distance limits for the use of PC?
No. However, it is important to note that the provision in §392.3 of the FMCSRs, prohibiting the operation of a CMV while fatigued, continues to apply. Therefore, a driver must get adequate rest before returning to driving.
If a driver picks up the CMV from a repair facility once repairs are complete, would the driver be allowed to use personal conveyance to their residence from the repair shop?
No, travel for repair and maintenance work is for the business and is considered on-duty time.
Can a loaded vehicle be used as PC?
Yes. Determining PC is based on the nature of the movement, not whether the vehicle is loaded.
Can PC time be combined with other off-duty time to complete a 10- or 34-hour break?
Yes, since PC is off-duty time. However, it is important to note that the provision in §392.3 of the FMCSRs, prohibiting the operation of a commercial motor vehicle while ill or fatigued continues to apply.
Can a driver be inspected during PC? If so, what is the driver’s duty status during the inspection?
Yes. Since the driver is still subject to the FMCSRs, the driver or vehicle can be inspected. The driver’s duty status would be “on-duty, not driving.” during the inspection.
The Storey Difference
At Storey Trucking, we pride ourselves on maintaining a positive work culture within our teams that feels more like a family. Not only do we ensure our drivers are trained to follow the FMCSA’s regulations, but we also continuously offer support through our healthy relationships with the dispatch and safety teams. Our drivers know that if they are ever unsure of how to use PC in a situation, they can pick up the phone and work directly with the Storey team to stay in compliance with HOS rules and the FMCSA regulations. Our team works hard to ensure each driver and their truck is prepared to hit the road, ready for success. We take care of our drivers so we can watch them succeed and have a long, happy career at Storey Trucking!
If you or someone you know is ready to drive for a team that’s like family, we welcome you to apply to drive with us.