Off duty vs sleeper berth

Not so much making up laws as choosing which ones to enforce. For example they do the same every time they clock someone going 1 MPH over the speed limit and choose not to write a citation.

Now yes there are times interpretation is necessary as the regs don't define something. Take for example personal convenience. The regs state "reasonable distance" Well, what is reasonable?
If one gets kicked out of a shipper, going 200 miles to a truck stop is likely unreasonable. However, If you are pulling a camper and the wife and kids are in the car behind you, 200 miles on PC is likely reasonable.

 

I was talking to a safety person I know about the real difference between line 1 and line 2. He said and I agree that the FMCSA should mandate that line 2 should be disabled for solo drivers and only used for teams. Makes logging easier and removes some fodder for these DOT officers that think they are gods! Think about it. What is easier than off duty, on duty driving or on-duty not driving.

 

Not just solo, but I'd be happy to see Sleeper totally gone. Can still allow an 8/2, just both periods would be off duty....

 

Thanks @brian991219 good post! Now a general comment!

One thing I have noticed over the years is how some people in trucking keep perpetuating half truths and out and out myths. Not going to start a flame war here, but this off duty, hotel public enemy number one thing is such an example. There is no rule anywhere that mandates you sleep. NOT ONE. I challenge anyone that says different to prove me wrong! Write your local office of the FMCSA and ask them! Then post the reply in this thread! That is the only reply I will accept!

 

It's an antiquated law from back in the day when you could get your 8 hrs in in segments. As long as you logged 8 hrs sleeper total you were good to go.
1hr here 30 min there etc.

 

In the case of the sleeper, it is. This was set up for teams. Now that most OTR drivers are on e-logs disabling that line for solo operations is easy. Won't affect the split sleeper either. Because what would happen is the rules would no longer make a difference between lines 1 and 2. Sleeper would just be logged off duty. In the long run, it is simpler and much easier.

 

I agree with you it is spelled out very plainly, however some will still argue that they can show off-duty anytime, even when using a sleeper. Most motor carrier enforcement officers will let that go since other than when trying for an 8/2 split it has the same effect, although there are some literalists that will cite false log which is why the FMCSA and other Agencies issue guidance in the first place. That said, again I agree that no guidance is required on this issue!

 

1 was talking WAY back when as long as the total sleeper time [far right column] totaled 8 sleeper. you could log it any way you wanted 1 hr at a time if you wanted. Split as many times you wanted as long as the total was 8 hrs,

But I agree in this day and age line 2 for a single is redundant.

 

I actually used to do that some. I would shut down and go to line 1 for an hour or 2 while I was moving about getting food or working on some projects like scanning paperwork (I used transflo). Then I would go to line 2 to watch a movie and take a nap. I don't remember coming off line 2 to eat breakfast etc. I just went from 2 to 4 did my pretrip and then to line 3. I never remember having trouble with safety or DOT over my logs. To be honest, when a diesel cop looked at my logs they were mostly checking for 70, 14, and 10 compliance.