For those of you who have been reading this blog for a while, you know I’ve had some…well, let’s say “issues” with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. I underwent an exhaustive compliance and safety review in May 2006 where all of these issues were supposed to be put to rest. I’ve been “trucking along” well since that time…until yesterday.
History first. There are some states – mostly in the West and Northwest – where we actually have to buy a fuel/tax permit in order to drive our truck. That might sound a little odd and I’m sure it works wonders for their “tourism” – even Recreational Vehicles have to buy a trip permit! Nonetheless, it is something that we are aware of and it’s just a part of doing business in those states. After my initial FMCSA review almost two years ago, it was determined that I would (1) need to obtain a Class A CDL, (2) keep a log book of the number of hours I drive, and (3) have all the appropriate documentation of a real commercial driver. I met all of those requirements (and now have a second career option as a commercial truck driver if the magic thing should ever stop working). And I’ve been going strong for the last two years without any problems.
Yesterday, I entered the Oregon DOT Weigh Scales at Cascade Locks and was asked to bring in my paper work and documentation. That’s never a good thing. I came inside with all my papers and ended up purchasing another fuel/tax permit to drive through Oregon ($165.00). And then they checked out my log book. And this is where this thing becomes so confusing. They told me that I’m completing my log book incorrectly! Now, I’m doing it EXACTLY as I was instructed by the FMCSA Safety Inspector – exactly! They contacted “their” safety inspector in Portland and he wasn’t sure but thought I might be wrong. So, who is right? And what am I supposed to do if THEY don’t know what to do?! It’s the same thing all over again – they want to make up the regulations as they go OR they just don’t understand their own regulations! Honestly, I’m not sure which is true but it is incredibly frustrating for me.
I’m out here just trying to make an honest living, do the right thing, and run the roads legally. And just when you THINK you know the answers, just when you THINK you’ve been given the right information from the people who are supposed to know how to interpret the rules, another “official” comes along as has a different opinion on the matter.
As it turns out, they let me go without any problems – except for the 45 minutes I spent at the Weigh Station and the frustration of dealing with a bureacracy that doesn’t have any level of consistency in the way they enforce their rules and regulations.
As a precaution, we’ve already purchased our fuel/tax permit for Idaho which will be prominently displayed in our window! And we’re working on Utah….