HOS New Team Drivers

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by PNwMtFlwr, May 15, 2022.

  1. PNwMtFlwr

    PNwMtFlwr Bobtail Member

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    Jul 30, 2020
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    Hello All,

    No joy finding a thread that discusses Team Driving HOS so seeking assistance here, please.

    SCENARIO: The husband and I depart out of home station after a 34 hour reset. Driver 1 (me) logs driving time, while Driver 2 (hubs) logs OFF Duty. Question 1, is this legal? Question 2, Where is the FMCSA guidance and/or team driving rules documented (their site is a train wreck).

    CONTEXT: Intent to logging OFF Duty is to avoid starting Driver 2 clock so we can shift change at our discretion. If he logs SLEEPER out of home station, he’s obligated to stay in that status for 8 hours min. Most times we need him available prior to the 8 hr min.

    If you know where we can find an excellent source for Team Driving HOS, not hearsay, please advise. Thanks for your help!
     
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  3. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    No such thing as team driver HOS. It's the exact same HOS as solo drivers.
    1.. You can only be off duty in a moving truck (in the passenger seat) a maximum of 3 hours before or after a 7 hour stay in the sleeper.
    2. There is no minimum time for sleeper berth. You can be there as long or as little as you want, but keep in mind point 1. You have to be on duty if you don't meet the criteria.

    You might want to read part 395 of the green book for reference.
    Federal Register :: Request Access

    Specifically for the off duty limit.
    On-duty time means all time...
    (4) All time in or on a commercial motor vehicle, other than
    (iii) Up to 3 hours riding in the passenger seat of a property-carrying vehicle moving on the highway immediately before or after a period of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth;
     
  4. PNwMtFlwr

    PNwMtFlwr Bobtail Member

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    Thank you very much for your response, ZVar - this is very helpful.
     
  5. loudtom

    loudtom Road Train Member

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    I thought a co-driver could only be off duty for 30 minutes while the driver is in motion, but I guess it's 3 hours. If the truck is not moving, you can do any combination of off duty and sleeper berth. So you can log sleeper leaving the house for as little time as you want, you can log off duty during breaks or fuel stops, just make sure to go back to sleeper before the truck moves again. You could do this every hour if you wanted, as long as it adds up to 10 hours without going on duty, or as long as you don't log off duty for too long while moving.

    If you interrupt your sleeper before the 7 hour split by going off duty, it just means you have to complete a 10 hour break that would include what you've already done in the sleeper.
     
  6. PNwMtFlwr

    PNwMtFlwr Bobtail Member

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    Jul 30, 2020
    Washington State
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    Thank you, @loudtom. So, both just off a 34 hr reset, I drive the first leg, when is he legal to drive? Regardless of how long I drive, when is he legal to drive?

    We’re trying to establish a standard time for shift change. So if we leave late on Dispatch Day 1, say 1100 hrs., and want to seat swap at 1500, we’re not sure if he’s legal b/c he didn’t log at least 7/8 hrs in the SB. Since he came off a 34 hr reset, it seems like he would be legal b/c he would have 34 + 4 hrs in SB while I drove. I hope that makes sense.
     
  7. flood

    flood Road Train Member

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    he had his 34 so as long as he logs sleeper when you leave home he is legal to drive at any time... you can drive 1-11 hours it's up to both of you

    your 34 must be offduty or sleeper or both.(34 being the minimum)... in this scenario as long as he doesn't log on duty. The time when you leave till you change is just part of his break....
     
    loudtom and PNwMtFlwr Thank this.
  8. pumpkinishere

    pumpkinishere Heavy Load Member

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    My husband and I are team drivers. When I’m driving he is in the sleeper. When he’s driving I’m in the sleeper. We are never off duty while the other one is driving.
     
  9. pumpkinishere

    pumpkinishere Heavy Load Member

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    He generally drives more of his shift than I do but it doesn’t matter especially coming off of 34 reset. Now once you start your week when he goes to the sleeper he needs 10 hrs in the sleeper before he can drive again. We always try to stop the truck where we can both sleep at least 4 hrs without bumping down the road so that’s how we do it. He may drive so 9 hrs then go to sleeper for 4 hrs then we wake up I drive for 6 hrs he’s ready to start driving after my 6 hrs. Then I’ve got to wait a full 10 hrs befor I start driving again.
     
  10. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    Again, there is no minimum time in the sleeper. He can go into sleeper @, for example, 11:00 and start driving at 11:01. Kinda silly, but perfectly legal.
     
  11. PNwMtFlwr

    PNwMtFlwr Bobtail Member

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    Thank you, @flood. We’re thinking this is legal as well, but cannot find it in writing. It doesn’t make sense that he would have to log another 10 hour rest period before driving when he just came off 34 and straight to SB. Thank you!

    395.3 MAXIMUM DRIVING TIME FOR PROPERTY-CARRYING VEHICLES:
    (1) Start of work shift. A driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty;
     
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