Hours of Service
Drivers may split on-duty time by using sleeper berth periods, but must comply with the new hours-of-service rules.
These drivers may accumulate the equivalent of 10 consecutive hours off-duty by taking 2 periods of rest in the sleeper berth, provided:
- Neither period is less than 2 hours.
- Driving time in the period immediately before and after each rest period when added together does not exceed 11 hours.
Example
Break #1: 2 hoursDrive #1: 4 hours
Break #2: 8 hours (since break #1 was 2 hrs, break #2, must be at least 8 hrs)
Drive #2: 7 hours (driver receives 11 hours driving minus drive time between break #1 & break #2).
The lapsed time in the period immediately before and after each rest period when added together does not include any driving after the 14th hour. Unloading, fueling, etc. will still be allowed after the 14th hour (driver must have an uninterrupted 10-hour break before resuming driving).
One sleeper berth period of 2 hrs or more within the 14 hr duration will not count against the 14 hr rule as long as driver takes the remainder of the 10 hr break after the 14 hr. rule is out.
Note: This "extension" is only allowed 1 time during the 14 hr timeframe.