30 min break at 8 hours

The 8 hours are consecutive hours, so they include driving and all other time (including any breaks that are less than 30 minutes). The new rule says you have to stop driving CMVs once you reach 8 consecutive hours past the end of your last break of at least 30 consecutive minutes.

Break before 8 hours is up. I have had dot check my elogs for it. Your instructor is flat out wrong.

 

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos/index.htm


From above site: Rest Breaks:
May drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since end of driver’s last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes.

One thing I didn't realize until brought to my attention on a different thread is that the 8 hour rule doesn't differentiate between driving time and on-duty, not driving time (such as pre-trip). Basically meaning, you have to take the minimum 30 minute off-duty break at or before 8 hours of on-duty time (regardless of whether it is drive time) before you are legal to drive. If, for whatever reason, you get stuck in a long on-duty, not driving stretch, you could stay on-duty, not driving, past 8 hours and be legal. But, you'd have to take that 30 minute (or longer) OFF DUTY break before you'd be legal to drive again. At least that is how I read the reg.
I'd be earnestly concerned about any instructor or trainer trying to express the DOT regs. don't really have to be adhered to.
I'm just a wannabe, but everything I have read and learned strongly suggest that the HOS regs are pretty concrete and not to be toyed with. At least not without peril.

 

I always try to go on duty for my pretrip/fuel 15 min then just go off for 30 min (eat, bathroom, paperwork, etc) and the rest of the day is yours log it how you want

 

The reg. doesn't specify the 8 hour rule begins when you start your 14, only the last time you went on-duty. So, after you took the 30 minute break and went back on-duty, you'd still have to take another 30 minute minimum break before you can drive from 8 hours after that point.

 

Yes.
Take the 30 minute break too early and you'll be required to take another one if you are pulling a long day.
It is not just 1 30 minute break during a 14 hour shift - it is a 30 minute break for every consecutive 8 hours of on-duty time.

It messes me up sometimes.
If I want to take a meal break 2-3 hours into a full day, I can't unless I also take yet another 30 minute break during the day.

 

Now that i read it again you are indeed correct, i guess ive never had an issue because i limit the amount on duty time i log anyway by only showing 15-30 mins load and unload. i find it effective to run 10hours (on duty/driving) per day that way i get to the 7th day before i have to reset

 

One of our drivers got a ticket the other day for not logging a 30 minute break within his first 8 hrs on duty, he hadn't driven anywhere near 8 hrs yet but it had been over 8 since he logged on duty that morning..

 

Speaking of Breaks...............

You ever have that 'moment' or opportunity to just park the truck in that certain spot and grab everything right out that front windshield?

Well...I did


I was peddling freight locally in chicago.....This particular day, I had a 'new' driver with me....just to show him the ropes around the city and suburbs....

We were on our last delivery on a cul-de-sac street...We made our last stop then parked in the Cul-de-sac facing the road..(in a way you can see everything in front of you on both sides down the street

As we were having lunch...We started observing things going on down the street..Its truly Amazing what you can see when you truly pay attention...

Anyway....About 3 businesses down on the Right a Jevic truck was doing a drop and Hook.....So me and the new guy were just watching him do his thing..

That Jevic Driver musta had Ants in his pants cause he dropped his trailer in the dock..Rolled down his legs..BUT forgot to undo his air lines and electrical cable....

Boy, You guessed it.....He jumped up in that cab so fast and threw it in gear.........All we could see were red and blue hoses being stretched farther than your imagination..Then the Infamous "PPPPSSSShHHH"

The electrical cable stayed connected but was stretched to about 30 Feet......

He jumped outta that cab and started cussing up something only found on a shrimpin' boat....

I could Not control my inner strength...I began Laughing so hard..My new driver looked at me..And He also began laughing extremely hard

The Jevic Driver Heard us Laughing and began heading our direction........He came over to my door and asked "Whats so funny?" I said....."What you did".....My new driver was still hysterical and the Jevic driver went over to the passenger side and asked him the same question.......

The New Driver Just Stuick his Tongue out at him.......Came back over to my side and BOTH of us stuck our tongue out at him.......He just shook his head and wsent back to his Air-SupplyLess Tractor




Shame on us!!!!

 

Strategically you can take the 30 starting at 05:30 and still maximize use of your entire 14. By the time you finish the 30 you will have 8 hours left on your 14 to use the balance of your 11.

 

49 CFR Part 395
Regulatory Guidance on Hours of
Service of Drivers Rest Break
Requirement; Drivers Who Become
Ineligible for the ‘‘Short-Haul’’
Exception During the Duty Day
SUMMARY: This regulatory guidance addresses application of the 30-minute
break rule to interstate drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) who
begin their duty days as ‘‘short haul’’ drivers exempt from the break rule, but
who occasionally exceed the short haul distance or time limits. Such drivers are
then subject to the break requirement and must prepare a record-of-duty-
status (RODS) for the day. The intent of the break rule would be satisfied if
drivers in these situations take a break at the earliest safe opportunity after
exceeding the short haul limits and explain in a RODS annotation why the
rest break was not taken within the required 8 hours of the last off-duty
break of at least 30 minutes.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-12-19/pdf/2013-30205.pdf

Perhaps your instructor was talking about the short haul exemption.