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Personal conveyance is a term every trucker should know, especially when exploring Hours of Service (HOS) rules. But what exactly does it mean, and how does it impact your daily operations? Simply put, personal conveyance refers to the use of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal reasons, unrelated to work or business while off-duty. However, there are some important rules and regulation which the driver must know and also adhere to.
Here we’ll explain what personal conveyance means, cover the key rules and regulations, and answer common questions to help you understand it better.
Personal Conveyance Rules and Guidelines
Drivers can log personal conveyance only when they are off-duty and not performing any tasks for their motor carrier. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the vehicle’s movement must not benefit the carrier in any way.
Drivers can use their commercial vehicles for personal reasons under FMCSA’s 49 CFR § 395.8 guidelines, even if they’re hauling a load, as long as it doesn’t involve work-related tasks. Some examples of acceptable personal conveyance include:
1. Driving from a truck stop or hotel to a nearby restaurant or entertainment spot when off-duty.
2. To travel from home to the terminal, trailer drop yard or the work site, so long as the breaks between trips are sufficient enough to prevent exhaustion.
3. Driving to a safe place to rest after unloading cargo, ensuring the rest time meets the required off-duty hours (49 CFR 395.3(a)(1) for property-carrying vehicles).
4. Moving the truck at the request of a safety official when off-duty.
5. Driving an empty motorcoach to a hotel or restaurant and back while off-duty. Other off-duty drivers on board are not considered passengers.
6. Transporting personal items in the truck while off-duty.
7. Using the truck to travel home after finishing work at an offsite location, if allowed.
Examples of CMV Uses That Don’t Count as Personal Conveyance:
1. Moving a CMV to help the motor carrier, like driving past rest areas to get closer to the next stop.
2. After dropping off a towed vehicle, the driver returns to pick up another one, as directed by the motor carrier.
3. Continuing a trip for business, like driving an empty truck to get a new load or moving a vehicle at the motor carrier's request.
4. Driving a bus with passengers still on board. Off-duty drivers heading to the same place aren’t counted as passengers.
5. Driving a CMV to a shop for repairs.
6. After being put out of service for driving too long, the driver needs to rest and drive to a safe place unless told otherwise by an officer.
7. Driving to the motor carrier’s terminal after delivering a load.
8. Driving a motorcoach to deliver luggage after the passengers have left.
Personal Conveyance: Frequently Asked Questions
Following is some of the frequently asked questions about personal conveyance rules, which would assist the drivers to know when and how they can use the vehicles for personal reasons.
1. Can a driver use personal conveyance to go home or back to the terminal after dropping off their last load?
No. Going home or to the terminal after finishing a trip is part of the trip, so it can’t be counted as personal conveyance.
2. What does “offsite location” mean when traveling home after working at a remote site?
An "offsite location" is a place where a driver works temporarily, like a construction or utility site, that’s not a terminal or a shipping facility. Even if a driver is driving between home and this kind of place it is considered as personal conveyance.
3. Does personal conveyance change if the driver is hauling hazardous materials?
No. Personal conveyance rules stay the same for hazardous materials as long as the driver follows the rules in 49 CFR parts 177 and 397.
4. Can a driver who uses the short haul exception also use personal conveyance?
Yes, the short haul exception and personal conveyance are not related. Off-duty time, including personal conveyance, does not extend the 12-hour duty time limit.
5. How is personal conveyance time counted in the hours-of-service rules?
Personal conveyance time is counted as off-duty time.
6. Can a driver use personal conveyance after running out of driving/on-duty hours?
No, except in one case: if a driver runs out of hours at a shipper or receiver’s facility, they can drive to a nearby safe place to park, as long as they rest enough according to the rules before driving again. Personal conveyance cannot be used to extend the workday.
7. Are there limits on how far or how long a driver can use personal conveyance?
No, there are no set time or distance limits. But the rule against driving while tired still applies, so drivers must rest enough before getting back on the road.
8. Can a driver use personal conveyance to go home after picking up their vehicle from the repair shop?
No, traveling for repairs is considered part of the job and counts as on-duty time.
9. Can a driver use a loaded vehicle for personal conveyance?
Yes. It doesn’t matter if the vehicle is loaded or empty, as long as the trip is for personal use.
10. Can personal conveyance time be added to other off-duty time to complete a 10 or 34-hour break?
Yes, personal conveyance counts as off-duty time. But remember, drivers cannot drive if they are sick or too tired.
11. Can a driver be inspected while using personal conveyance? If yes, what is the driver’s duty status during the inspection?
Yes, the driver or vehicle can be inspected. The driver would be considered “on-duty, not driving” during the inspection.
12. Does personal conveyance affect your hours-of-service clock?
When drivers move their vehicle during off-duty time, recording it as personal conveyance helps prevent the start of their hours-of-service clock.
13. How far can I drive using personal conveyance?
In the U.S., carriers can set their own personal conveyance limits, as long as they follow FMCSA rules. In Canada, commercial drivers are allowed to use personal conveyance for up to 75 km (46.6 miles) per day.
14. How does personal conveyance work?
Before the electronic logging device (ELD) rule, drivers just recorded "personal conveyance," and that was enough. Now, with ELDs, the FMCSA has set guidelines for "yard moves" and "authorized personal use."
15. Can I use personal conveyance while in my sleeper berth?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), drivers must log their hours of service (HOS) using one of four duty status options:
- On-duty, not driving
- Driving
- Sleeper berth
- Off-duty
Personal conveyance is considered off-duty time, so it cannot be used while in the sleeper berth or in an on-duty, not driving status.
Digital Permit Book Simplifies Compliance
Keeping track of the compliance of the fleet can be quite easy when you have Digital Permit Book to count on. Though intended for simplifying the process of permit management, it also assists your fleet manager to check whether all rules and regulations of FMCSA or the state laws of US have been met.
The features of the Permit Book App include, getting rid of paper work, ease of access to permits, and avoiding mistakes. The drivers can just confirm quickly if they are adherent to the permit or not, without necessarily going through unnecessary checks and other documents.
Fleet managers can track permit expiration dates, monitor regulatory compliance, and stay informed with real-time updates. With our user-friendly dashboard, you can ensure that your fleet stays compliant, no matter where your drivers are located.
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