"Log Book or Not: The Importance of Keeping Records on the Road"

In today's digital age, the idea of maintaining a logbook may seem like a relic of the past, but when it comes to the world of driving, this age-old practice still holds significant value. Legally, there may be no requirement for a log book, but from the perspective of law enforcement and experienced drivers, it can be a vital tool for organisation and accountability.

Drawing from my background as a police officer with 10.5 years of service, including time in Roads Policing, I can attest to the importance of keeping records while on the road. When pulling over drivers, especially professional lorry drivers, I was often impressed by their organisational skills. Many of them had a diary that effectively served as a logbook. In these notebooks, they meticulously recorded start and finish times, locations, dates, road issues, delays, reasons for those delays, and any other problems they encountered during their journeys. They even tracked their driving hours, both reduced and extended, which served as a useful complement to the digital tachograph.

From a law enforcement perspective, it was reassuring to encounter drivers who had their affairs in such meticulous order that inspecting their digital tachograph downloads often seemed unnecessary. Their logbooks provided a comprehensive and easily accessible record of their activities on the road.

As a driver myself, I've always recognised the value of a logbook. When I began my career with Royal Mail Parcels, it was common practice to maintain one, and I never abandoned the habit. Even though we had carbonised tachograph discs (known colloquially as "frisbees"), the log book remained an invaluable tool. While the tachograph recorded driving and rest times, it couldn't capture the full spectrum of experiences a driver might encounter.

For instance, it couldn't document the challenges faced while dealing with warehouse staff, unexpected delays, or the occasional disagreements with route planners. In the realm of professional driving, one is bound to encounter a multitude of issues, not all of which are negative. Nonetheless, recording these experiences can be immensely beneficial.

In my time as a police officer, we had a saying: "It ain't written down, it ain't happened." This wasn't just a casual phrase; it was a judicial recommendation emphasising the importance of documenting everything. Whether it was an incident report, a statement, or a log book entry, recording events was crucial for accountability and transparency.

Over the years, my approach to diary and log book writing evolved, influenced by my experiences in the Royal Mail, the Army, and the police. Today, my style of log book is very much submissible in court, akin to an MG11 statement—a legal term for a formal statement.

So, while the log book may seem antiquated in our digital age, its value endures. It serves as a testament to the thoroughness and responsibility of drivers, offering a comprehensive record of their journeys, experiences, and the challenges they overcome. In a world where accountability and attention to detail matter, the log book remains an essential tool on the road.

In the world of professional driving, keeping an organized and detailed log of your daily activities is not just a good practice; it's a necessity. This log serves as a testament to your responsibilities, accountability, and the myriad tasks you handle while on the road. In this blog, I'll walk you through how I maintain my daily log in my diary or log book.

BF and CF are important terms used in the context of keeping a detailed log as a professional driver, particularly when it comes to monitoring and managing driving hours. Let's break down what these terms mean:

BF - Brought Forward:

BF refers to the hours that are carried over or brought forward from the previous day, the previous week, and even the weekend. This information helps you understand how much driving time you have left for the current day. It takes into account your accumulated driving hours, rest breaks, and other relevant factors.

For example, if you drove for several hours yesterday, and you have some remaining driving time from last week and the weekend, your BF represents the total hours available for today's drive. Knowing your BF is crucial for planning your route and ensuring you don't exceed legal driving hours.

It also plays a role in determining whether you can use driving hour extensions or reductions as allowed by regulations. By keeping track of your BF, you can make informed decisions about your daily driving schedule.

CF - Carried Forward:

CF, on the other hand, stands for "Carried Forward." It's a term used at the end of each day to summarize your driving activities for that day. This record includes details such as the hours driven, rest periods taken, and any other relevant information about your day on the road.

The significance of CF is that it serves as a starting point or reference for the next day's log. When you begin a new day (typically tomorrow or the start of the workweek on Monday), you can copy the CF from the previous day's log into your new log as the BF for that day.

This practice helps you maintain a continuous and accurate record of your driving activities. It ensures that you have a clear record of your driving history, which can be essential for your own reference and as a legal log of the dynamic nature of driving.

It's important to note that BF and CF are complementary to, but not replacements for, the information recorded by a tachograph. The tachograph provides official and standardised data for regulatory compliance, while BF and CF are tools for your personal record-keeping and planning purposes. By using these terms effectively, you can manage your driving hours more efficiently and stay within the bounds of the law.

Optional way I write the BF and CF see here

Any A5 Notebook will do the Job, just make sure you sign and name it at the start of the first page or simply sign at the bottom of each day.

**Tally Style - Simple and Numerical:**

The Tally Style is a straightforward approach. In this style, you start each day with a CF section that carries over unused hours and minutes from the previous day. As your day unfolds, you update CF with the hours and minutes you've used. At the end of the day, you calculate BF for the next day by adding up the remaining hours and minutes from CF.

**Used and Remained Style - Detailed Breakdown:**

The Used and Remained Style offers a more detailed breakdown. It begins with a CF section that explicitly states the hours and minutes used, carried over from the previous day. As you go about your day, you continually update CF with the hours and minutes used. At day's end, you calculate and explicitly state the remaining hours and minutes.

**The Choice is Yours:**

So, which style should you choose? The decision ultimately boils down to your personal preference and what works best for your record-keeping needs. Both styles serve the same purpose - helping you maintain an accurate and organized log of your driving hours.

Whether you prefer the simplicity of the Tally Style or the detailed breakdown of the Used and Remained Style, the key is to stay consistent with your chosen approach. Remember, meticulous record-keeping is not just a professional responsibility; it's a vital tool for managing your driving hours effectively. The choice is yours - make it count