DOT BY THE NUMBERS
This is getting out of control. I believe if you work a
day job it will have to be logged as on duty not driving
time. If you work on your car, load, unload, race, etc.
on duty not driving. There goes more than your 60 hours.
If you go for your medical card be sure to put that on duty
also. Next will be drug screen. You will have to join consortium
be random tested for drugs and alcohol every three months.
Tow vehicle will need monthly inspection reports along with
trailer.
I can go on but I have used my 60 hours this week. Now
if I hook my fishing boat to my tow vehicle do I still need
to log it as it is now under the control of the D.O.T.?
Charles R. Hilton
DOT ADDITIONS
Jok, I wanted to drop you an email to commend you on taking
a very touchy subject - DOT Regulations - and breaking it
down and reporting on it. Last year I had the Minnesota
DOT come to my shop at home and actually shut me down until
I met all the regulations you shared in your article and
then some. You did a great job of explaining all the requirements
and giving a working example.
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Here
are some added things that I got dinged on that I am doing
now: getting the annual DOT vehicle inspection for the truck
and the trailer, had to turn in my RV plates on the truck
and get prorated plates - $$$, I have to report IFTA gas
taxes quarterly, state by state. Every state I travel to
I have to pay to add it to my registration.
The other challenge is the logbook. I was told I have to
log all my hours at my day job and then the hours driving
to the racetrack and racing. This makes it real tough to
work an 8-hour day and then try to drive to Topeka for a
race and stay under 11 hours that day. It forces me to take
a day of vacation off work so I do not exceed the 11 hours
per day.
I just thought I would share some potential added feedback.
You may hear from others on this topic.
Roger Stoen
NHRA HAS DOUBLE DIGIT TV INCREASE?
You asked if we reached our level of interest at 1.5 million
households? I say as it is, yes. But if it was changed to
something besides an all pro hour, perhaps it would change.
I don't care for pros, the racing or the latest in what
colour underwear they have on or if they know a new recipe.
I want to see drag racing, PERIOD! In fact, if I had the
choice it would be a sportsman show, wheel standing Stockers
and Super Stockers. Some technical blurbs thrown in are
good if they are relative to drag racing, but none of the
"wandering through the pits" junk.
I say put on a sportsman show with in-camera wheelstands
and "come from behind" races, then compare the
ratings to the "pro" show with their current identical
top end monologues and indistinguishable cookie cutter cars,
and see whose ratings are better.
I'm a diehard drag fan and I don't watch the pro show on
tv. Nuff said? Is that a big enough hint there is something
wrong?
Jim Miller
