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Entering a Flag in Your Logbook

by | Jan 9, 2021 | Logbooks

Flagging your logbook to show that you did an activity, but didn’t change duty status.

Name of Video Here!

https://youtu.be/0jqkbKRuQzI

Closed Caption

Introduction

Hi there smart drivers.

Rick with Smart Drive Test.

Learn the basics for keeping a logbook in the United States here.

Another quick tip for log book smart.

Today we’re going to talk about flagging.

What is Flagging?

Flagging is when you don’t change duty status lines in your logbook.

You just draw a vertical line down, putting the location.

If you’re in the United States or Canada, it’s the city & state of where you’re at.

Or you can put the highway down and the mile marker.

And you can see the example here behind me of flagging.

When you put a flag in your logbook, you don't change duty status. It's done for pre-hill inspection and checking load security.

So you don’t change duty status.

Oftentimes it’s a driving line and it’s less than seven minutes.

If it’s more than seven minutes, often they recommend that you change duty status lines.

Enroute & Pre-Hill Inspections, Load Security Checks

But flagging is for hill checks, brake checks and those types of things: pre-trip inspections, load inspections, and whatnot when you don’t change duty status and it only takes you five or six minutes to actually do what you’re going to do.

This is especially important for people running the mountains and you get out and do a pre-hill check.

Because if you put a line down in your log book, it indicates that you, in fact, did stop.

Because it’s pretty hard to put a line in your log book if you don’t stop.

So put a line in your log book – that way if you get pulled over by authorities, or you’re unfortunate enough to be involved in a crash going down the hill or end up on the runaway lane or whatnot, there is a line in your log book that shows and indicates that you, in fact, did stop at the brake check.

Checking the tires and ensuring the vehicle comes to a stop before descending a hill is an example of putting a flag in your logbook.

You did stop and check the brakes–checked vehicle and whatnot.

So it’s called flagging.

You can see the example here in the image – so do that every time you stop to check something: load security, brakes and those types of things.

Flagging–do it in your logbook.

Conclusion

I’m Rick with Smart Drive Test, thanks very much for watching.

If you like what you see here share, subscribe, leave a comment down in the comment section.

The pre-trip inspection form is often attached to the logbook and has to be completed as part of your daily inspection.

As well, if you’re going for your commercial license make sure you check out the videos below– lots of great information there.

If you’re on a mobile device, check out the cards in the upper right-hand corner.

Those too will give you links to the videos.

Question for my smart drivers:

Have you heard of flagging before and do you do it in your logbooks?

Leave a comment down in the comment section.

All of that helps out the new drivers working towards your CDL license.

Thanks very much for watching – good luck on your road test & remember, pick the best answer, not necessarily the right answer.

When putting a flag in your logbook, simply draw a line down, put in the location and the activity.

Have a great day.

Bye now.

Blooper

[CLOSING CREDITS, MUSIC, & BLOOPER] What was the question you asked me? Have you seen Firestar or Black Widow or buzby girl or….

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