30 Off Duty requirement question

Thats right, Im sorry. Rest assured even if they do away with the restart provision, big brother will just find other ways to screw us.

 

I just wait till I hit construction then write in break.

 

A lot of guys log sleeper berth with their elog when they get to a traffic backup where things are dead stopped. Im so glad elogs make everyone run legal and make the roads safer.

 

Anytime during that 8 hr window u can take your 30 min brk.

 

i use my 30 for loading/unloading. off duty.

 

There is a point during the 8 hour drive time where I, being an old man who takes diabetes pills, feel a call of nature. That is my 30 minute break. The 30 minute break is not something that is designed to punish you. I am going to get a little political here so bare with me.

There are only two issues in Politics, Freedom versus Equality. The two both seem like good things but they are in fact total opposites. The 30 minute break is anti freedom and is pro Equality. It is a move by the government to try to give an over the road truck a 30 minute lunch break like every other worker in the United States. It is a Democratic administration who came up with that idea. If being treated as Equal to everyone else is important to you, then voting Democratic is something that you most likely do. Me, I am all about freedom.

I do not find the 30 minute rule something that is total BS. I just find it unnecessary.

The 1-5 and 168 rules I hate. The Tracy Morgan thing could very easily lead to a rule requiring a bed check to insurance a good nights sleep before you report to work. Giving up another freedom so everyone can have an equally good night sleep.

 

Wow!!

to the OP, yes you can take your 30 early.

The rule is this ==>> Rest Breaks - [a driver] May drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since end of driver’s last off-duty or sleeper berth period of at least 30 minutes.

So in other words, you are to take a 30 minute break within 8 hours of your last off duty or sleeper berth time change. This change can be going on duty or driving.

As explained to me, if I start at midnight after being in the sleeper for 10 hours, I have to do my pre-trip and then fuel up, that's 30 minutes right there. So I start driving and when I hit 7 hours and 30 minutes of drive time, I have to take a break or be in violation. If I take the break at say 4 hours drive time, I am legal, if I take it at 8 hours drive time, I am not legal.

 

well hopefully you never kill someone.... some lawyer is gonna dig up your post and off to prison you go

 

Would t you know it, actually got very tired today, just pulled into rest area for a nap. This is about a once every 6 month occurrence, today was the day. Night night.

 

Last night was coming off a 34 hour reset and I'm the night driver on a team. I extended my 30 to a 45 minute nap and had to take another 15 minute nap later in my shift.

The 1 am to 5 am rule is particularly hard for night drivers. Seems like every week I struggle keeping my sleep cycle on a 34 with the new rules and it takes me 2-3 days to adjust back to my night work schedule. By the time we finish a coast to coast run I'm fine, then it always gets screwed up by the new 34.

Point is that whenever I start getting tired I find the nearest exit ramp and take a nap. There's no substitute for sleep.