Driver Best Practices

Review reporting location, required documents, equipment issuance, app access and assigned contacts.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Use assigned Slack channels for dispatch updates. Report arrival, departure, loaded, unloaded, scaled and material ETA changes.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Complete approved contractor agreement, W-9, insurance verification and equipment inspection before dispatch.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Confirm appointments, commodity, temperature, stops, route and load-specific requirements before departure.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Use Motive accurately; follow applicable HOS rules and company procedures. Report malfunctions promptly.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Follow current dispatch and fuel-card instructions. Never share credentials or use unauthorized purchases.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Choose legal, secure parking. Do not leave loaded equipment unattended without company authorization.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Verify seal, temperature, cargo condition and appointment; submit legible signed documents promptly.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Inspect tractor, trailer, tires, lights, brakes, reefer and cargo equipment; report defects.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Buckeye yard — company drivers and owner-operators. Before departing with a JASKO trailer, verify its release status, obtain the required documents, complete a pre-trip inspection, and make sure the trailer is clean and ready for service.

1. Check the trailer status tag. Tags are placed by the maintenance person, JASKO management, the Helsinki Custom Repair crew, or a driver.

• 🟢 Green — All Good: the trailer is ready for work, subject to your own pre-trip inspection.
• 🟡 Yellow — Minor Issue: a minor issue is noted on the tag. Read it before dispatch — if the issue could affect the load, safety, or legality, check with the office first.
• 🔴 Red — Out of Service: do not use or dispatch the trailer until it has been repaired, cleared, and released by authorized JASKO personnel.
• Never remove a tag someone else placed, and never assume a trailer is road-ready just because it has a green tag — your pre-trip inspection still decides.

2. Obtain the trailer credentials.

• Confirm the trailer number and assignment with Dispatch.
• Obtain or verify the trailer registration, insurance documentation, inspection records, and other applicable credentials from the office.
• Confirm the documents are current and in the trailer's document holder or the approved electronic system.

3. Complete the pre-trip inspection.

• Tires, wheels, brakes, lights, suspension, landing gear, doors, and seals.
• Trailer body, roof, floor, and interior for damage.
• Fifth-wheel coupling, locking jaws, air lines, and electrical connections.
• Reefer unit for damage, fluid leaks, fuel level, and active alarms. Start the reefer and verify it is operating properly before leaving the yard, and run the reefer pre-trip/self-test as applicable.
• Confirm the assigned temperature setpoint and operating mode before loading temperature-controlled freight.
• Report defects immediately. Do not depart with an unsafe trailer or an unresolved reefer problem.

4. Clean and prepare the trailer. Every trailer goes into service clean, odor-free, and free of debris.

• Remove pallets, packaging, loose materials, and dirt. Back up to the yard dumpster to empty wood pallet pieces and wrapping material.
• Sweep the floor and corners; use the DeWalt air blower at the yard for loose dirt and debris.
• Use the long water hose at the yard to rinse or wash out the trailer when necessary; let excess water drain and make sure the trailer is sufficiently dry before loading.
• Check for odors, residue, or contamination that could affect the next load, and confirm floor drains, air channels, and reefer airflow paths are unobstructed.
• Do not load a trailer with unacceptable odors, residue, standing water, or contamination — notify the office if additional cleaning, sanitizing, or repairs are required.

5. Confirm the exchange and departure.

• Notify Dispatch of the trailer being returned and the replacement trailer being picked up.
• Report and photograph existing damage or missing equipment.
• Confirm the replacement trailer is clean, inspected, and operational, and that the assignment has been updated.
• Notify Dispatch before departing the yard.

Yard procedure — Buckeye. The driver completes the required inspections and reports deficiencies before accepting and departing with the trailer; a status tag does not replace a pre-trip inspection. Follow Dispatch instructions for your specific assignment.

Buckeye yard — company drivers and owner-operators, JASKO-owned trailers. Every JASKO trailer is returned clean, secured, properly parked, and ready for inspection and preparation for the next driver. This applies to trailer exchanges as well as final returns.

1. Clean the trailer.

• Remove all trash, debris, pallet fragments, packaging, and loose materials (yard dumpster).
• Sweep, or use the yard blower, to clean the floor and corners.
• Rinse the interior with the yard water hose when necessary.
• Leave the trailer clean, odor-free, and free of standing water. Report spills, contamination, or conditions requiring professional cleaning.

2. Reefer unit and fuel.

• Best practice: leave the reefer fuel tank at a minimum of 3/4 full.
• Record the reefer fuel level and engine hours.
• Report active alarms, mechanical issues, or abnormal operation.
• Follow Dispatch instructions on whether the reefer stays running or is shut down.

3. Remove personal and load equipment.

• Remove all padlocks and personal locks from the trailer doors.
• Remove load locks, straps, and other load-securing equipment.
• Remove personal belongings and anything not assigned to the trailer.
• Leave JASKO-owned equipment in its designated location, as instructed.

4. Inspect and report the trailer's condition.

• Inspect tires, wheels, lights, landing gear, doors, seals, and exterior panels; check the interior walls, floor, roof, and reefer unit for damage.
• Complete a Trailer Condition Report — trailer number, drop-off location, date and time, reefer fuel level, engine hours, cleanliness, and damage — including photographs of the trailer and any defects.
• Report anything that could prevent the next driver from using the trailer.

5. Park and confirm the drop-off.

• Park only in the designated or authorized location; lower the landing gear correctly and secure the trailer; disconnect air and electrical lines safely.
• Confirm the trailer is empty unless an authorized loaded drop was arranged.
• Notify Dispatch of the trailer number, location, and drop-off date and time, and submit the Trailer Condition Report and photographs.

Important: do not mark a trailer as available, and do not remove a yellow or red status tag. JASKO personnel inspect the trailer and determine its release status.

The return standard: Clean · Odor-Free · Free of Debris · Minimum 3/4 Reefer Fuel · Padlocks Removed · Load Locks Removed · Condition Report Submitted. Falling short may require additional cleaning, servicing, or inspection; any financial responsibility is determined under the applicable agreement and the documented circumstances.

Protect the product first. Save fuel where the cargo allows it.

Refrigerated transportation maintains the proper product temperature — it is not designed to rapidly cool warm freight after loading. Always follow the load-specific temperature, operating-mode and handling instructions from the shipper, customer, bill of lading, rate confirmation or JASKO dispatch. Never change a setpoint or operating mode just to save reefer fuel.

Know what you are hauling. Before loading, verify the commodity, required setpoint, Continuous or Start-Stop/Cycle mode, fresh-air vent requirements, and the freight class (frozen, chilled, fresh, controlled-ambient or protect-from-freeze). If any requirement is missing, inconsistent or unclear, contact Dispatch before accepting the load.

Pre-cool or pre-warm the trailer. Bring the trailer to the required transit condition before loading — in extreme cold, some commodities need the trailer pre-warmed instead of cooled. If product is loaded significantly warmer than required, stop and contact Dispatch; do not assume the reefer will pull it down in transit.

Inspect before loading. Check the air chute, bulkhead, floor channels, door seals, walls and drains. The trailer should be clean, odor-free and free of anything that blocks airflow. Damaged seals and blocked channels let heat in and make the unit work harder.

Protect airflow — airflow is part of refrigeration. Cold air must travel through the trailer, around the freight, and back to the unit. Do not block the evaporator, air chute, return-air path or floor channels, and do not load against the ceiling. Fresh produce keeps generating heat (respiration) after harvest, which makes airflow even more critical.

Use the right operating mode. Continuous provides constant airflow. Start-Stop/Cycle saves fuel by shutting the engine down once temperature is achieved — use it only where the commodity and the load instructions permit it. If the shipper requires Continuous, there is no exception. The reference table is in the Commodity Temperature & Mode Guide below.

Never adjust the setpoint to save fuel. The correct setpoint is the cargo requirement, not a fuel tool. Air leaving the refrigeration unit can run several degrees colder than the setpoint — on products carried near their freezing point, a setpoint that looks right can still freeze and damage the freight.

Open dock? Shut the unit down. Running the reefer with the doors open draws in warm, humid air and can ice the coil, blocking airflow in transit. Follow the facility's instructions, and once loading is complete: doors closed → seal verified → unit restarted → setpoint verified → mode verified.

Keep the doors closed. Every unnecessary opening replaces conditioned air with outside air. Do not open a loaded trailer just to “check the freight” unless authorized or operationally necessary.

Monitor the load, not just the setpoint. Watch setpoint, operating mode, return temperature, reefer fuel and alarm status. JASKO remotely monitors equipped trailers, but that does not replace the driver's responsibility. If temperature drifts, an alarm repeats, or the unit behaves abnormally, contact Dispatch immediately — do not wait until delivery.

The JASKO rule: cargo protection comes first, fuel efficiency second. Use the most efficient mode that safely meets the commodity requirements and the customer's written instructions. When in doubt, maintain the required setting and contact Dispatch before changing anything.

Based on USDA guidance — Protecting Perishable Foods During Transport by Truck (USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Handbook 669). Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law.

Driver reference only. These are typical reference ranges to help you understand why a product is normally transported a certain way. They never override the load's written instructions. Always run the temperature, mode, ventilation and handling instructions given for the specific load — and never change a setpoint or switch Continuous / Start-Stop because a table shows a different typical value.

Freight classes at a glance: Dry/ambient (no refrigeration unless instructed) · Controlled ambient / protect from heat (~55–75°F, Cycle) · Protect from freeze (product minimum, Cycle/heat) · Chilled (~28–40°F) · Fresh produce — cold (~30–40°F, Continuous) · Fresh produce — chilling-sensitive (~40–60°F, Continuous) · Frozen (~−10–0°F, Cycle permitted when authorized) · Deep frozen (~−20°F, Continuous) · Pharmaceutical/medical (written protocol only).

Frozen & deep-frozen

Frozen product has real thermal mass, so stable frozen freight is one of the best legitimate reefer-fuel savings. But frozen never means “turn the reefer off.” JASKO's Continuous rule for ice cream is deliberately more conservative than the equipment manufacturers' minimum recommendation.

Chilled meat, seafood & dairy

JASKO default: fresh raw proteins run Continuous unless the load instructions specifically permit cycling.

Fresh produce — cold / near-freezing (Continuous)

Many of these move only a few degrees above their freezing point — leaf lettuce is recommended at 32°F with a freezing point around 31.8°F. That margin is exactly why Cycle is not the default on near-freezing produce.

Fresh produce — chilling-sensitive (Continuous). Colder is not always better.

A banana load at 58°F is not an ambient load — it is temperature-controlled produce. And “tomatoes” alone is not enough information: maturity stage decides the range. Dispatch asks: “Tomatoes — what maturity/color stage, and what exact setpoint?”

Controlled ambient, protect-from-freeze & pharmaceuticals

• Controlled ambient / protect from heat (chocolate, candy, certain beverages, cosmetics, film, chemicals, specialty ingredients): customer-specific settings, Cycle normally — often the best Cycle fuel savings, because the goal is preventing excessive heat, not holding an exact cold temperature.
• Protect from freeze (bottled liquids, beverages, canned goods, certain produce and chemicals): maintain the product minimum — in winter the reefer may need to heat to hold a 38°F setpoint. Never shut the unit off just because the weather is cold.
• Pharmaceuticals / medical: per the written shipment specification only — Continuous unless validated instructions state otherwise. Never infer a setting from the word “pharmaceutical.”

When Continuous overrides a normal Cycle load

• The shipper requires Continuous — no exception.
• Fresh produce, or constant airflow is required.
• Frequent stops with doors repeatedly opening.
• Extreme heat makes the unit restart almost immediately after every shutdown — the fuel saving disappears while starts pile up. Contact Dispatch and use Continuous when approved or required.
• The unit cannot maintain setpoint — contact Dispatch immediately.

Quick decision

1. BOL/tender specifies a temperature? Use it.
2. It specifies Continuous? Run Continuous.
3. Fresh produce? Continuous unless written instructions say otherwise.
4. Ice cream? Continuous — JASKO standard.
5. Ordinary stable frozen freight? Cycle may be used when authorized.
6. Controlled ambient / protect-from-heat? Cycle normally.
7. Protect-from-freeze? Maintain the minimum; heating may be required.
8. Commodity or maturity unclear? Call Dispatch.
9. Product temperature looks wrong at pickup? Stop and contact Dispatch before accepting the load.

Reference guidance only. Requirements vary by commodity, variety, maturity, packaging, origin, destination, customer and shipper instructions. Core produce guidance: USDA, Protecting Perishable Foods During Transport by Truck (Handbook 669). Under the FDA Sanitary Transportation framework, the shipper specifies the required operating temperature where applicable and the carrier follows those written requirements.

Check axle and gross weights and scale as directed before proceeding.

Thermo King alarm codes — reefer showing a code? Look up what it means here, then report it to Dispatch/Maintenance with the code number.

Carrier alarm codes — the same lookup for Carrier units.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Park safely, notify dispatch/maintenance, and obtain authorization before repairs.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Why it matters: a reefer alarm, a breakdown or a trailer issue rarely happens near Buckeye. These are the manufacturers’ own locators — enter your location and they return the nearest authorized dealers. Follow the Breakdown & Maintenance procedure first: notify Dispatch/Maintenance so the repair is authorized, then find the shop.

Start here — JASKO’s preferred mobile shops (Buckeye yard & Phoenix area):

1. Helsinki Customs and Repair — our primary shop, based at the Buckeye yard: mechanical work and annual inspections. Call (970) 712-6485. (No tire work — tires go through the tire accounts below.)

2. Taylored AZ Fleet Services — our second call for mobile service in the Phoenix area: 4716 N 128th Dr, Litchfield Park. Call (623) 680-6300.

Parts, body work & overhauls — who we use:

Carrier parts: CT Power — Phoenix, and Denver is a preferred location too — they also do trailer body work.

Thermo King parts: TK West, Tolleson — they also do trailer body work.

Trailer parts & body work: Utility — preferred Utility shops: Utility Trailer Sales Company of Arizona (Tolleson) and Utility of Henderson, CO.

Engine overhauls: Brian at 1st Truck Fleet, Phoenix.

On the road beyond Phoenix, use the factory locators:

Volvo Trucks dealer locator — for the tractor.

Freightliner dealer search — for Freightliner tractors.

Kenworth dealer locator — for Kenworth tractors.

Peterbilt dealer locator — for Peterbilt tractors.

Carrier Transicold dealer locator — for Carrier reefer units.

Thermo King dealer locator — for Thermo King reefer units.

Utility Trailer dealer locator — for the trailer (our reefers are Utility 3000R).

FleetPride service centers — all-makes parts & service network.

Goodyear Commercial Tire & Service Centers — tire service locations.

Yokohama Truck dealer locator — commercial tire dealers.

Bridgestone commercial dealer finder — commercial tire dealers.

Continental truck tire dealer locator — commercial tire dealers.

Michelin dealer locator — commercial tire dealers & service.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

• Maintenance intervals & your responsibilities. JASKO equipment is maintained to meet or exceed the manufacturer's requirements. This is the practical overview — the detailed technical intervals live in the controlled JASKO Maintenance Standards.
• Engine service follows the manufacturer's intervals for your truck — Volvo VNL: oil PM every 60,000 miles or 1,700 engine hours. Peterbilt (Cummins): at most every 50,000 miles or 1,250 hours. Chassis lubrication comes more often — it's built into the schedule, kingpins and front end first.
• Annual DOT inspection every 12 months — a federal requirement, tracked and scheduled by Maintenance.
• Idling shortens the interval. High idle time moves your truck to the manufacturer's shorter service interval. If you're called in “early,” that's the rule at work — not a mistake.

Operational reference — overview only. The controlled JASKO Maintenance Standards (JASKO-MNT-001 → 009) govern in case of any difference.

• Trailers are inspected every 6 months, and get their full PM together with the DOT periodic inspection every 12 months.
• Reefers get a Dry Check every 6 months (or 1,500 reefer hours) and a Full PM every 12 months (or 3,000 hours) — whichever comes first.
• Before summer heat, condensers and radiators are cleaned and checked. A reefer that can't breathe can't cool.
• Operating the reefer day to day is covered in Reefer Operations and the Commodity Temperature & Mode Guide, in this same section.

Operational reference — overview only. The controlled JASKO Maintenance Standards (JASKO-MNT-001 → 009) govern in case of any difference.

• Your pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip inspections are the first layer of the whole maintenance program.
• Look at: tires and inflation (including any TIREMAAX warning) · wheels and wheel ends · lights and reflectors · air and fluid leaks · reefer temperature, fuel, and alarms · fifth wheel and coupling · anything loose, damaged, or unusual.
• After a PM, glance at the new oil filter: it's paint-marked with the date, mileage, and engine hours of the service. No marking on a filter that should have been changed? Tell the office.
• Use the Right Weigh gauge as an axle-weight aid on a level surface — and a certified scale when legal weight must be proven.

Operational reference — overview only. The controlled JASKO Maintenance Standards (JASKO-MNT-001 → 009) govern in case of any difference.

• The service schedule is a maximum, not a promise. A developing defect never waits for the next PM.
• Report promptly: warning lights or fault codes · reefer alarms or temperature problems · air or fluid leaks · abnormal tire wear · steering or brake concerns · wheel-end leakage · unusual sounds or vibration · suspension, lighting, or electrical defects · TIREMAAX warnings.
• You're not expected to diagnose it. You're expected to report it — early reporting is what keeps a small defect from becoming a roadside failure.
• A trailer tagged out of service (red tag) does not move until repaired and released by authorized personnel — see Trailer Pickup & Exchange and Trailer Drop-Off & Return, in this same section.

Operational reference — overview only. The controlled JASKO Maintenance Standards (JASKO-MNT-001 → 009) govern in case of any difference.

• Drivers inspect and report. Repairs and adjustments are technician work — if it isn't an inspection item, it isn't a driver task.
• That includes: engine and aftertreatment work · brake and steering adjustments or repairs · TIREMAAX repairs or modifications · Right Weigh calibration · reefer mechanical and refrigeration repairs · filter changes and PM services.
• Never add sealants or internal tire products to a TIREMAAX trailer unless Maintenance approves them for that system.
• If you're not sure whether something is yours to touch — it isn't. Report it and let Maintenance decide.

Operational reference — overview only. The controlled JASKO Maintenance Standards (JASKO-MNT-001 → 009) govern in case of any difference.

Verify tractor registration/IRP, insurance, annual inspection, IFTA credentials, trailer registration/inspection and applicable jurisdiction permits.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Provide required documents and Motive ELD inspection output; notify safety of violations or out-of-service orders.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Secure the scene, contact emergency services if needed, notify safety/dispatch, preserve evidence and follow accident packet.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Check route-specific restrictions, chain requirements, road closures and safe operating conditions.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Dispatch must verify facility-specific background, clothing and entry requirements. No passengers at delivery.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: Personal conveyance (PC) is off-duty driving for a genuinely personal reason — the movement serves you, not the load, not JASKO, and not your business. The test is the purpose of the movement, never whether the trailer is loaded or empty.

PC permitted — examples:

• Driving from en-route lodging to a restaurant, store, or other personal stop, and back.
• Commuting between home and the terminal (your normal work-reporting location), a trailer-drop lot, or a work site — when you have been relieved from work, are not completing a dispatched trip, and the commute still leaves you enough time to get your required rest.
• Moving the truck to the nearest reasonable safe parking location after you run out of hours at a shipper or receiver (the limited FMCSA safe-parking exception — see the Adverse Driving & Safe Parking item below), then taking your full rest.
• A genuinely personal movement can qualify even with a loaded trailer — cargo alone does not disqualify it; the purpose does.

Not PC — the stories that do not work:

• “I was empty.” Driving home or back to the terminal from a delivery is a continuation of that trip — on-duty driving, loaded or not. That is the difference between a trip and a commute: commuting home from the terminal after you are released is one thing; heading home straight from the receiver is finishing the load’s last leg.
• “I was just repositioning.” Moving toward your next load, a pickup, or a better starting point advances the business — on-duty driving.
• “It was only a few miles.” FMCSA sets no mileage limit on PC, and short distance does not turn business driving into personal driving.
• Driving to or from a shop for repairs or maintenance is business travel — on-duty time.
• Using PC to keep moving freight after your hours run out is log falsification, not a loophole.

The rule that decides every case: PC is determined by the actual purpose of the movement — not by what you select in the ELD and not by how the trip is described afterward.

JASKO’s enforcement is simple: personal conveyance stays available to drivers who use it honestly. Misuse it — business driving logged as PC — and JASKO will disable personal conveyance on your ELD.

Why it matters: PC misuse is one of the most common HOS violations and it is treated as falsification — it damages your record and JASKO’s safety rating, and it can end a driving career. If you are inspected while on PC, that inspection time is recorded as on-duty, not driving.

FMCSA: Personal Conveyance Frequently Asked Questions

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: The federal hours-of-service rules for property-carrying drivers set the legal limits on driving and duty time. Every JASKO company driver and owner-operator is expected to know them — “I didn’t know” is not a defense at roadside or in an audit.

• 11-hour driving limit: drive at most 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-hour window: no driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty; off-duty time does not pause the window.
• 30-minute break: after 8 cumulative hours of driving, take a 30-minute non-driving interruption (on-duty not driving, off-duty, or sleeper all count).
• 60/70-hour limit: no driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days.
• 34-hour restart: 34 or more consecutive hours off restarts the 7/8-day period.
• Sleeper berth split: the 10-hour break may be split — at least 7 consecutive hours in the berth plus at least 2 hours off duty or in the berth, totaling 10; used correctly, neither period counts against the 14-hour window.

Why it matters: HOS violations are the backbone of CSA scoring and roadside enforcement, and fatigue is what the rules exist to prevent. Two exceptions exist — adverse driving conditions and the safe-parking exception — and they are covered in their own item below so they are used correctly, not creatively.

FMCSA: Summary of Hours of Service Regulations

Plan your hours ahead: Open the JASKO Hours-of-Service Planner — enter the days you have worked and the days ahead; it tracks the rolling 8-day window and shows how much driving you have each day, when you run out, and what a 34-hour restart gives back. Print it, copy it into a spreadsheet, or download the Excel version. The monthly recap form is here: Summary of Hours Worked and Hours Available (70-hour / 8-day rule). Booking a load and not sure he can make it? Run the Load Check — his hours against the miles, pickup to delivery.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: FMCSA allows two narrow exceptions so a driver is not forced to choose between a violation and an unsafe stop. Both are limited, both must be documented, and neither is a trip extender.

• Adverse driving conditions (49 CFR 395.1(b)): if you encounter adverse conditions you did not know about before the run began — snow, ice, sleet, fog, or unusual road and traffic conditions such as a crash blocking the highway — you may extend both the 11-hour driving limit and the 14-hour window by up to 2 hours to complete the run or reach a safe place.
• It does not apply if the conditions were known, or should have been known, before dispatch — and it never extends the 60/70-hour weekly limits.
• The run must have been makeable: the exception fits only a trip that could normally have been completed within your hours, with the unforeseen event occurring after the trip began. It does not rescue a run that was planned too tight.
• Safe-parking exception: if you run out of hours at a shipper or receiver, you may use personal conveyance to reach the nearest reasonable safe parking location, provided you then take your required rest. It covers the move to parking — not continuing the trip.
• Document it: annotate your log with the condition encountered and notify dispatch and safety as soon as safely possible. When in doubt, stop safely and call — no load is worth an hours violation or a crash.

Not an exception — the stories that do not work:

• “The storm was in the forecast.” If the conditions were known — or should have been known — before dispatch, there is no exception. Weather the driver or the office already knew about does not qualify.
• “Traffic was bad.” Ordinary congestion, loading and unloading delays, and fuel stops are not adverse driving conditions — FMCSA makes no allowance for loading delays. Adverse means snow, sleet, fog, ice, or an unusual condition you did not know about, such as a crash blocking the highway.
• “The truck broke down.” A mechanical failure is not an adverse driving condition — and FMCSA states expressly that it is not an “emergency” under this rule either.
• “The shipper demanded it.” Shipper demands, appointment pressure, market conditions, and a shortage of drivers are not emergencies and do not create the exception.
• “I get the full two hours.” No. The extension covers only the delay the conditions actually cause, up to 2 hours — get through in one hour and the extension is one hour, not two.
• “I used it to get home.” Wanting to get home is expressly not an emergency. The extension is to complete the run or reach a safe place — not to reach home or a preferred stop.
• Safe-parking stories: driving past the nearest reasonable safe parking to reach a favorite truck stop; using the move to keep advancing toward your destination or your next pickup; skipping the required rest once you park. Each one turns an exception into a violation.

Why it matters: used correctly, these exceptions protect you and the public. Used as a routine planning tool, they are violations — and auditors can tell the difference.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: your ELD record is your legal record. Every movement of the truck is captured — including movements nobody claims — and unassigned driving events have to be explained, not ignored.

• Log in before moving the truck and confirm the duty status is yours and correct.
• Review unassigned driving events promptly: claim the ones that are yours with an annotation; reject the ones that are not so safety can resolve them.
• Never drive on another driver’s login, and never let anyone drive on yours.
• Edits are made by annotation, never by erasing history. Certifying a log you know is wrong is a violation.
• Report ELD malfunctions to safety promptly and follow the instructions you are given, including paper logs when directed.

Why it matters: unclaimed driving time becomes an audit finding for you and for JASKO. Accurate logs are also your protection — they prove you were legal and rested.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: JASKO trucks run Motive AI dashcams and telematics. The system watches for specific unsafe behaviors and creates a safety event — video and data the office can review. Most events also trigger an in-cab alert so you can correct in the moment. These are the standard triggers, published so there are no surprises: you know exactly what the system is looking for.

In-cab behaviors (driver-facing camera):

• Mobile device use: holding or using a phone for 5 seconds or more at 25 mph or above.
• Seatbelt violation: seatbelt unbuckled for 5 seconds or more at 25 mph or above.
• Distraction: looking down for 5 seconds or more at 25 mph or above — food, drink, or anything else. Eating with food visible in hand or near the mouth triggers the same way.
• Smoking: holding or smoking a cigarette for 5 seconds or more at 5 mph or above.
• Drowsiness: two yawns within 2 minutes at 5 mph or above.

Harsh driving & maneuvers:

• Hard braking, hard acceleration, hard cornering: the vehicle gateway’s accelerometer exceeds the G-force threshold set for the vehicle class.
• Close following: a 0.7-second following gap held for 15 seconds above 35 mph.
• Unsafe lane change: following at 0.5 seconds or less for 5 seconds above 35 mph while changing lanes.
• Lane swerving: 3 lateral swerves within 5 minutes at 50 mph or above.
• Forward collision warning: closing on the vehicle ahead until the gap stays unsafe for 1.5 seconds, at 25 mph or above.

Speed & road violations:

• Speeding over the posted limit: 6 mph or more over the posted limit for more than 1 minute. Events are graded Low, Medium, High, or Critical. A separate company policy-speed alert can also be set.
• Stop sign violation: rolling the stop — your speed never drops below 6 mph within 7 seconds after the sign leaves the camera’s view. A full stop means 3 seconds at 0 mph.

Vehicle & operational events:

• Collision / near collision: impact or sudden-deceleration signatures, confirmed through telematics and camera.
• Unsafe parking: parked on the shoulder of a highway or major road (posted 45 mph or above) for 3 minutes or more.
• Unidentified driving: the truck moves with no driver paired in the Driver App. Log in before you move, every time.
• Camera obstruction: a blocked road-facing or driver-facing view is itself an event. Keep both lenses clear — never cover, tilt, or unplug the camera.
• Quick Capture: the button on the dashcam saves 40 seconds of video (20 before, 20 after) when you want something on record — a near-miss, a reckless driver, a problem at a dock. It does not count against you.

How JASKO uses events: an event is a record to review, not an automatic finding against you. Motive validates events to remove false positives, and Safety reviews the video and the context — braking hard to avoid a crash is the system working, and the video is what proves it. Repeated or serious events lead to coaching and, where the record requires it, the corrective process. The thresholds above are Motive’s standard triggers; some can be adjusted by the fleet, and JASKO’s dashboard settings govern.

Why it matters: the same video that flags a mistake also clears you when the other driver caused it. Drive so the camera is your witness, not your accuser.

Motive Help Center: Safety Event trigger definitions

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: cargo coverage is conditional. A loaded truck or trailer left unattended is not automatically covered the same way as one in authorized, secure parking — coverage depends on the policy’s actual terms, endorsements, exclusions, and security conditions. Never assume a parked load is protected just because it is insured.

• Situations that create exposure: a loaded trailer parked at home overnight; a trailer left detached at a customer or truck stop; tractor and trailer left unattended through a layover; parking in an unsecured lot or an unauthorized location; keys left in the vehicle or trailer doors left unsecured.
• Conditions policies may impose: equipment locked and secured, approved or monitored parking, time limits on unattended equipment, and special conditions for detached trailers. The exact conditions are policy terms — they are confirmed with JASKO’s insurance agent, not guessed at roadside.
• What you do: get JASKO authorization before leaving loaded equipment at any unapproved location — including at home. Keep the reefer running and monitored, secure doors and keys, and report any theft, tampering, or security incident to dispatch and safety immediately.

Read this before you ever think about it: cargo thieves do not need hours — they need minutes and an unwatched trailer. Organized crews follow loads from the shipper and wait for exactly one mistake: the driver walking away. A stolen refrigerated load can run into six figures, and if the trailer was left somewhere it should not have been, the claim can be denied or reduced — and a loss that insurance does not pay does not disappear. It lands on JASKO, and where the law and your agreement allow, on the person who left the load. For a company driver it can end your job. For a contractor it can end your agreement. There is no errand, no shower, and no night at home worth that.

Why it matters: one unattended load can mean a denied or reduced claim on top of the loss itself — the freight, the customer relationship, and deductible exposure that follows JASKO for years. No authorization means don’t do it — and if you cannot reach dispatch, keep the equipment secured with you and keep calling. When in doubt, call before you park.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program scores carriers and drivers in BASIC categories — Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances & Alcohol, Vehicle Maintenance, and Crash Indicator. Roadside violations feed those scores with severity and time weights: recent and serious violations hurt the most.

• Speeding, phone use, and seat-belt violations sit in Unsafe Driving — and they are the violations an officer can see before he ever stops you. Federal rules prohibit hand-held phone use and texting while driving a commercial vehicle, and require seat belts.
• HOS and log violations sit in HOS Compliance — the category this whole section exists to keep clean.
• Lighting, brake, and tire defects sit in Vehicle Maintenance — your pre-trip inspection is what keeps them off JASKO’s record.

Why it matters: high BASIC scores bring intervention — warning letters, audits, and targeted roadside enforcement — and they are visible to customers and insurers. Every clean inspection pulls the scores the other way.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: most serious crashes are preventable, and the pattern is almost always the same: distraction, fatigue, following too closely, or speed for the conditions. JASKO trucks run road-facing AI cameras because the footage protects the driver who was doing it right.

• Phone away. No hand-held phone use and no texting while driving — federal prohibition, not a preference.
• Keep your following distance and manage your space cushion; a loaded reefer needs room to stop.
• Fatigue is impairment. If you are tired, the legal and safe move is to stop — the HOS rules and the safe-parking exception exist for exactly this.
• Slow for conditions, not for the speed limit sign — rain, ice, fog, and traffic set the real limit.
• The camera is road-facing and is there for the record: after an incident, accurate logs and camera footage are what prove your version.

Why it matters: defensive driving is what gets you home. It also keeps your CDL, your record, and JASKO’s safety standing intact.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

What it is: cargo theft today is often fraud before it is force — thieves impersonate carriers, drivers, and dispatchers to get a load handed to them or to find one unattended. Refrigerated food loads are a standing target. Recognize the setup before the loss happens:

• Fraudulent pickup: pickup instructions change at the last minute, or a “dispatcher” contacts you from a number or email you do not recognize. Stop and verify with JASKO dispatch on the number you already have — never the number in the new message.
• Unattended loaded trailer: a loaded trailer left unsecured or unhitched in an open lot is the easiest theft there is. Never leave loaded equipment unattended without company authorization.
• Insecure parking: park in lit, populated, secure locations; follow the parking and cargo-security instructions for the load, and keep reefer temperature monitored and alarms answered.
• Loose talk: do not discuss load details, routes, or schedules with strangers, at the counter, or on social media. Thieves collect schedules.
• Something feels wrong: being followed, being watched at a stop, paperwork that does not match — contact dispatch and safety immediately and move to a safe, public location.

Why it matters: a stolen load is a six-figure loss, a lost customer, and an insurance event that follows the carrier for years. The driver is the last and best line of defense.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Why it matters: speed limits for trucks, tire chain rules and kingpin (bridge law) distances change at the state line. These are the working charts — the posted sign and the state DOT govern.

Truck speed limits by state — Trucker Route chart built from IIHS and state DOT data. Nine states hold trucks below the car limit; California is 55 statewide.

Tire chain & snow tire laws by state — The Trucker’s state-by-state guide. Colorado is the strictest: commercial vehicles must carry chains on I-70 from September 1 to May 31.

Never chained up? Learn it before you need it: How to chain up your rig (video) — Pride Transport’s full demonstration, the complete install start to finish. Shorter technique cut: 6 Tips — Putting Chains on a Semi Tire (Double D Distribution). Practice in the yard on a dry day beats learning it on a shoulder in a storm.

Kingpin to rear axle maximums, by state — Big Truck Guide’s chart. About half the states set a maximum: California 40 ft (Caltrans), Connecticut 43, Indiana 43, New Jersey 41, New York 43 — and states measure differently, so check every state on your run before you slide the tandems.

Planning a run? The Load Check uses these limits to suggest a planning speed for your pickup and delivery states.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Refer to current signed compensation documents for CPM, per diem, accessorials and eligibility.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Review contract-specific settlement terms, deductions and dispute procedure.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Submit required trip documentation, receipts and expenses through approved channels.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

1122 N. 189th Ave, Buckeye, AZ 85326. Follow posted yard rules and instructions.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.

Contact dispatch/safety immediately for accidents, reefer failures, cargo emergencies and unsafe conditions.

Operational reference — follow current approved JASKO instructions and applicable law. Controlled policy text and acknowledgments will be published separately after approval.