HOS new rules

Well, there is the extra free hour of work if you want to split sleeper....
The 30 doesn't help most OTR, I agree. However OTR drivers are only a portion of drivers that follow HOS's. To name a few segments it will help. Flatbedders, Bulk tankers, liquid tankers, LTL, Local, yard dogs, some regional, and a bunch more. All have not driving time that's typically on duty that can count to the 30 minute break.

 

For an average OTR or regional driver:
1. It helps quite a bit by the 3/7 or 7/3 sleeper split.
2. Combining a 30 minutes break with on duty time - while nothing new per common practice - at least will take this little "cheating the law" burden from, I guess, the most normal folks.

 

If they really wanted to help they'd get rid of the 14hr window to drive.

 

Yes. Yes. Yes.....and 70 per 8 days too.
Unfortunately, those who are in charge of deciding what HOS should be, are not the ones who know what it is like out here.
They think that spending a lot of time at truck stops brings necessary rest.
I laugh at them like a child:
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

 

You guys won't be satisfied until they allow you to work 24 hours a day at the same pay level. Good grief, if you can't make enough money in 14 hours find another line of work.

The hours are already way to long.

 

Read the new regulations very carefully concerning the split berth changes....

From FMCSA website (emphasis added)....

Sleeper Berth Provision
Modifies the sleeper berth exception to allow a driver to meet the 10-hour minimum off-duty requirement by spending at least 7, rather than at least 8 hours of that period in the berth and a minimum off-duty period of at least 2 hours spent inside or outside the berth, provided the two periods total at least 10 hours, and that neither qualify period counts against the 14-hour driving window.

Nowhere does it say that either of the portions of split berth period can't be LONGER. But it does say that NEITHER portion counts toward the 14 hour clock.

So....
I pretrip (.25 hours) and drive to reciever (6.5 hours) using 6.75 hours of the 14. I then sit on the dock for 6 hours either off duty or sleeper berth... This 6 hours doesn't count to the 14, provided I take at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth at the end of my day. Taking that into account I still have 7.25 hours left on my 14 instead of 1.25 hours that I would have on the current HOS.

This means that since I'm wide awake, because i took a 4 hour nap while being unloaded, I can still drive for 4.5 hours using the last of my 11 hour clock, then go off duty to get a shower and a meal call the family ect... Say this takes 3 hours, then go to sleeper berth for 7 hours. Once that 7 hours has passed I will have a full 11 and 14 for the next day.

Basically the way it is written the split berth can be used as a "pause" for the 14 hour clock. Until they say that one or both portions of the split berth CANT be longer this will work as I explained it.

So if you have been wanting to PAUSE the 14 hour clock this split berth is what you have been wanting... BUT it can only be used if you have a sleeper truck, so it really only helps OTR drivers.

 

I agree to a part - but there are other motivations for running a longer day....

 

It's even simpler than that ... A break of at least 2 hours now stops the 14 ... Roll into a shipper with 1 hour left on the 14, they take 2 to unload and you have your hour left to go find a home for the night.

Felling a little tired, want to take a nap
.. shut down for 2 and lose non of your 14.

Want to stop and have nice lunch, take couple of hours and lose non of your 14.

The only downside I see is with on duty time counting towards the 30 ... More idiots will sit in the fuel island getting a 30.

 

The fact that I will finally be able to stop the clock makes me happy. It will help tremendously.