Regarding 2 hr break

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by deejay8080, Dec 3, 2014.

  1. deejay8080

    deejay8080 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 3, 2014
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    Hello,

    My question is regarding the 2 hr off duty time required in addition to the 8 hr mandatory break.
    Is there any law or regulation that prohibits how "early" we can take that break.
    I live very close to my company yard ... like 5 mins drive from home so usually here is what I do:

    Start my day. On duty time for like 30-45 mins
    Then log off duty for 2 hrs (where I go home have dinner, watch TV etc...)
    Start driving for 6-7 hours
    Then sleeper for 8 hours
    Start a new day

    Would this be okay?
     
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  3. generallee

    generallee Medium Load Member

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    What 2 hour break? Did I miss something?
     
  4. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    Methinks that OP is asking about split sleeper breaks...
     
  5. archangelic peon

    archangelic peon Medium Load Member

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    Talking about doing an 8/2 split.

    Advantage is you don't have a wasted 30min break per day doing this.
    30x7 = 210mins of potential sleep/do whatever time per week

    Both the 8hrs & the 2 hrs has to be logged as sleeper not off duty.

    No regulation on how early you take it but it might be at companies' discretion.

    Check with company first, some don't allow it at all while others allow only if you take the 8 first.

    Weird schedule you have...log 30-45mins on duty then go home & come back?
    Seems like wasted time & if you did your pretrip during that period (as your onduty time would indicate), how do you know things have not gotten messed with/changed on your rig while away?
     
  6. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    Take a look at the logbook examples in the document found at this link: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/logbook-examples

    You'll want to pay particular attention to examples 26 through 29. Split sleeper breaks are confusing, and typically are only useful for a very limited set of circumstances; you're best to simply take a break of 10 consecutive hours and carry on as usual.
     
  7. generallee

    generallee Medium Load Member

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    I see no advantage to the split. Unless you're doing it wrong like 90% of the drivers that think they know how to use it.
     
  8. Meltom

    Meltom Road Train Member

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    It can be useful running regional with short loads.
     
  9. generallee

    generallee Medium Load Member

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    Yeah I can see where it could be there. My bad. Way too many get confused on how it works tho.
     
  10. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    It really only reaches it's full potential when you can make the 2 hr break fit in with the 30 min break. Combine the two into one. But basically, the 8/2 split is just like the old split sleeper thing we used for decades. Only the 14 hr can make it get screwed up. Many folks fudge this all up, so they chose to not do it. And many company's safety departments frown on using it due to the complication and risk of goofing it up. I have to say, this is one area the e-logs really excel at. They can keep track of all the details and make sure that one does the 8/2 thing all they want and keep things organized.

    I use it once in a while. And like I stated, I try to take either the 2 or the 8 to coincide with a 30 min mandate so that I don't ever have to actually take the 30 min anywhere else.
     
  11. deejay8080

    deejay8080 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 3, 2014
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    Thanks for the input. I do the split so to avoid rush hour and yes my trips are short hauls.
     
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