Hours of service questions and answers

(g) Sleeper berths. (1) Property-carrying commercial motor vehicle.' (i) In General. A driver who operates a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle equipped with a sleeper berth, as defined in §§395.2 and 393.76 of this subchapter,

• (g)(1)(i)(A) Must, before driving, accumulate

• (1)At least 10 consecutive hours off duty;
• (2) At least 10 consecutive hours of sleeper-berth time;
• (3)A combination of consecutive sleeper-berth and off-duty time amounting to at least 10 hours;
• or
• (4) The equivalent of at least 10 consecutive hours off duty if the driver does not comply with paragraph (g)(1)(i)(A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section;
  • <the catch here is it must be 'consecutive'>

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• (g)(1)(i)(B) May not drive more than 11 hours following one of the 10-hour off-duty periods specified in paragraph (g)(1)(i)(A)(1) through (4) of this section; and

• (g)(1)(i)(C) May not drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty following one of the 10-hour off-duty periods specified in paragraph (g)(1)(i)(A)(1)-(4) of this section; and

• (g)(1)(i)(D) Must exclude from the calculation of the 14-hour limit any sleeper berth period of at least 8 but less than 10 consecutive hours.
  • <this is the only way to 'stop' the 14 hour clock>
    

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• (g)(1)(ii) Specific requirements.' The following rules apply in determining compliance with paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section:

• (g)(1)(ii)(A) The term "equivalent of at least 10 consecutive hours off duty" means a period of

• (1) At least 8 but less than 10 consecutive hours in a sleeper berth, and
• (2) A separate period of at least 2 but less than 10 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth or off duty, or any combination thereof.

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• (g)(1)(ii)(B) Calculation of the 11-hour driving limit includes all driving time; compliance must be re-calculated from the end of the first of the two periods used to comply with paragraph (g)(1)(ii)(A) of this section.

• (g)(1)(ii)(C) Calculation of the 14-hour limit includes all time except any sleeper-berth period of at least 8 but less than 10 consecutive hours; compliance must be re-calculated from the end of the first of the two periods used to comply with the requirements of paragraph (g)(1)(ii)(A) of this section.

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That sums it up for me, looks like the 8 hours MUST be in the sleeper berth to 'stop' the 14 hour clock or 'split' the break. I never understood this so clearly, but then again, I only split my break a couple times, I just think it is too much work to keep track of and I have no use for a 8 hour break.
(Seems like they could make this more user friendly!)

I just realized this is almost exactly what davenjeip posted, sorry, I just like to see the whole regulation, so I can look for loopholes, but it amounts to the same. The word 'consecutive' makes all the difference. Thanks Davenjeip.

 

If you show yourself out of the truck for even a "P" break during the 8-consecutive sleeper berth hours in a split break and have your logbook inspected by DOT, I guarantee you will be put out of service, have tickets for driving over your 11 and perhaps exceeding your 14-hour on-duty limit.

 

That is the way I understand it also.

 

You are the one that keeps bringing up a split break.

You keep saying you have to spend at least 8 hours in your bunk. You do not have to spend ANY time in your bunk. You can spend the entire break inside the truck stop. You can spend it in the motel.

You do not have to spend 8 hours in your bunk. You can be in your bunk for 5 hours and go into the truckstop have breakfast or whatever for the next 5 hours.

If you do not believe me, ask dieselbear or MikeMD.

I have dealt with this on many occasions and have never been questioned.

The law only says that what I stated on the property carrying. You can take it off duty if you wish.

You are showing the same information that I am saying, yet you are saying you must take 8 hours in the sleeper berth. What part of consecutive and equivalent to do you not agreee with?

 

What a crock.

I have had a level 1 with the logbook showing that I was in it for less than 6 hours and the rest of the time reflected as off duty.

No problem.

 

On a split break??? Man, YOU got cut some slack - that's all.

 

Why are you calling it a split break?

It is the 10 hour break. It can be taken any way you want.

It has happened to me on several occassions.

If they tell you it has to be logged as 8 full hours, get it in writing.

 

A split sleeper berth break and a 10-hour break are two different things:

A ten-hour break can consist of any combination of line 1 and line 2.

A split sleeper berth break MUST include a short break on line 1 or line 2 in conjuction with 8 uninterrupted hours in the sleeper berth logged entirely on line 2. Usually there is some line 3 and/or 4 time in between the two breaks, ya know!

 

I have never brought up a split sleeper break. It is the other poster who keeps bringing it up. I am only referring to a 10 hour break.

 

We were discussing a split sleeper berth break...