SPlit sleeper

If I understand the language of the regulation, the 8 hrs and 2 hrs can be taken in reverse order also (2-8., as long as they both appear. My next question is if I take the first break as 2 hours, the 14 hr rule continues, is that correct? Then when I take the 8 hr break, the 14 hr rule ends, correct? This would then give me a full 11 hrs to drive, if I needed to.
Is there a limit to the number of hours driven between the 2 and 8, as long as I don't exceed the 11 or 14 hour rule?

As an example, I start my day after a 34 hr restart, drive 5 hrs, take a 2 hr break on line 2, drive 5 more hours, take 8 hr break on line 2. Do I now have 11 hrs available? I have only driven 10 hours total and have only been "on duty" 12 hrs.. I really appreciate your willingness to help all of us who are confused by the split sleeper rule.

 

The answer to your questions is NO you do not have a full 11 hours to drive.
What you would have available to drive in the situation above is 6 hours to drive after the 8 hour break. The driving time in between the 8 & 2 is counting AGAINST your next 11 hours.

The best way for me to explain it to make sense (I hope) is if there is no full 10 hour consecutive break or a proper 8 & 2 hour break after the working period its counting against you.

So in your situation you drove 5, took a 2 , drove 5 (total driving time was onlyl 10) then you took an 8 hour break. THe total time worked did not total over 14 hours & the driving time did not total more than 11. Now the 8 & 2 is only going to clear the time worked prior to the first break. Leaving everything after the 2 as part of your next 14 hour rule (the 8 would extend it though, that's the tricky/easy part) and the driving time after the 2 is counting towards your 11 (because there is no 8 & 2 after the 2 hour break to clear that driving time out).

It's really simple, look at the sticky threads in this forumn and we have very detailed information regarding split breaking and discussions .

 

I had the split explained to me a bit simpler/differently and "right or wrong" haven't been gigged yet.

you're on duty and driving... legal...

for what ever reason you need a break...

pull over and hit the sleeper for 2,3,4,5,6,7,8, hours...

get back in the seat and finish whats left of your original available shift hours. If when you pulled over you "COULD" have legally driven 5more hours... you can now drive those 5 hours.

when your original shift hours are used up. so are you. you now have to take a standard 10 hour break.

when you are back from (ten hour) break... you are back to a new 11/14 hour day.

this split thingy can get you home or to a dock... but in general it shouldn't be used unless really needed because you are going to take a (split break) + (10 hour break) = 12 to 20 hours off duty to make it legal where normally you'd have just taken the (ten hour break).

its a rule of dimishing returns.

drive 10 hours, take an 8 hour nap, driver 1 more, and now you need a ten hour break. doh !!!!

I've only done it once so I could get home for the weekend on a friday night instead of a saturday morning.

and I could be dead wrong... all togather... its just a different way it was explained to me is all.

 

It was explained a little wrong to you the first part is correct you can drive say 5 hours take a nap for say 3 hours now you can do the rest of your drivind say 6 and then you have to shut down for 8 more from the way the new req's are and can drive for another 5 then have to be in bed for 2 to drive another 6 then 8 more off the total in sleeper must equal 10 and at least one must be 8 hours then you can split you 11 hours driving how ever you want. In the old days it was allot better but we didn't get the 34 hours reset so the new rules make it a real easy to never run out of hours.

 

The split break is no more hours spent off than your normal 10. The way you explained it seemed to me that you are discussing the 11 & 14 hour rule, because you state no matter how many hours you stop for when your original 14 is up, it's up. That would be true unless you want to split break and to extend the 14 hour you must have 8 hours in the SLEEPER.

Your 2 hour break can come first meaning when your original 14 hour is up you only have to take 8 hours in the sleeper, however this does not reset your 11 or 14 hour to being a full 11 & 14, it only resets from the end of the previous break. I have a very simplified sheet that explains it and a sheet that tells you step a,b & c to follow and your will find the answer needed.

IF you take a 4 hour break it does still somewhat help to push out the 14 hour mark (after your 8 hour break). It does not however extend the 14 hour clock anymore

Also when split breaking you don't have to take a full 10 hour break ever if you continue to split break correctly . You can drive 5, off 2, drive 6, sleep 8, drive 5, off 2, drive 6 off 8, So all you are doing during your 14 hour period is taking a break for 2 hours (like eat & shower) and when you would normallly take a 10, you only have to take 8 and drive 5, so see split breaking is farely easy and it is very helpfull to those who like to stop for a couple hours during their 11 hours of driving (or held up at a customer etc)

Now trust me I did not discuss all the rules to split breaking here, I just gave quick simple explination. See my split breaking sheet or ask questions if you need more info