14 Hour HOS Question

Y’all keep assuming taking three hours in the berth extended the 14 hour day. No extension no need to pair with 7 hours

 

Direct from FMCSA website


Under the sleeper berth provisions, a driver takes 7 hours in the sleeper berth & later takes an off-duty period of 3 hours before arriving at home. When the driver arrives home within the permissible hours, what rest is req’d to reset their "day clock"?
FMCSA-HOS-2020-395-FAQ08.pdf (84.08 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions Relating to 2020 Changes to Hours of Service Regulations

Question 8

Q: Under the sleeper berth provisions, a driver takes 7 hours in the sleeper berth and later takes an off-duty period of 3 hours before arriving at home. When the driver arrives home within the permissible hours, what rest is required to reset their "day clock"?

A: In this specific scenario, the driver will need to take either: 1) at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth (continuing reliance on the sleeper berth provision), or 2) 10-consecutive hours off-duty. Both options would exclude the off-duty period of 3 hours from the 14-hour "driving window." The location of the off-duty period is not a factor in the calculation. This same principle applies, if, for example, the driver takes a 10-consecutive hour off-duty period at a hotel or a friend's home.

Regulatory Topic: Hours of Service
Effective Date: Thursday, November 19, 2020
Issued Date: Thursday, November 19, 2020

 

Umm, their answer is actually incorrect. If you were to take 7 hours in the sleeper, you would NOT "reset" your "day clock". You would only get back as many hours as you didnt use between the 7 hour sleeper previously, and the 3 hours off duty.

Yes, you would be able to drive again, but not for the full 11 hours, which is what the question asked... Even if you are just talking about the 14 hour clock, the time spent driving between the 3 hour off duty time and the time in question is still going to come out of it, so it wont truly "reset" unless you take the full 10 off.

For example: You are off duty from 9am to noon. You then drive 3 hours home. You then log 7 hours in the sleeper. You now have 11 hours on your 14 hour clock, and 8 hours on your 11 hour clock.

To fully reset your "day clock" (ie have your full 11/14 hours available), which is what the question asked, you would have to spend 10 hours off duty, in the sleeper, or a combination of the 2. (unless you are like me and mix some PC time in there somewhere also )