30 min break workaround for otr

I don't know if this has been mentioned but I found a way to keep my full 14 hour workday legally and still get in that 30 min break. I have been using the split sleeper provision almost exclusively. I'll park and log sleeper for 8 hours which extends the 14, then when the 30 min break is due I just take a 2 hour break and use it for meal, shower, excercise, whatever (even sitting at a shipper/receiver), and it completes the 10 hour break adding more hours. So far this has worked out well for me. You really aren't losing time, in fact you are gaining an extra 30 mins by incorporating it into your 10 hour break.

 

Ok, here's how the split sleeper works....
You can break up your 10 hour break into 2 breaks of 8 hours and 2 hours. The 8 hour break HAS to be 8 full hours logged sleeper. The 8 hour break extends your 14 for 8 hours. The 2 hour break can be logged any combination of off duty or sleeper.

Ok an example. You start your 14 at 0800, you stop at 1200 and take an 8 hour sleeper break. When you come back on duty at 2000 you will still have 10 of your 14 left. at 0000 (midnight) you stop and take a 2 hour break. At the start of this break you have 6 of your 14 left. At 0200 you completed the split berth and your 14 resets to the end of your first 8 hour break so at 0200 you now have 8 of your 14 left.

You can use the split in any oreder, 8 then 2 or 2 then 8 and you can string them together theoretically never taking a full 10 hour break at 1 time. I'm finding it's giving me much more flexibility in when i drive. Should I wish to drive at night and it's 1400 I merely find a spot to park and take 8 in the sleeper then drive without losing time (if delivery/pickup apt allows).

I know the split berth sounds complicated but if you just follow a few simple rules, I will refresh them....

The split sleeper is comprised of 2 breaks of 8 and 2 hours.

The 8 hour break suspends the 14 and HAS to be logged all sleeper berth.

The 2 hour break can be any combination of sleeper/off duty and it does NOT suspend the 14.

The 14 resets at the end of the FIRST break. So if you take the 8 and it ends at 1200 then take a 2 at 1600 your 14 resets to 1200 meaning it will end at 0200 if no other qualifying breaks are taken.
You can take the breaks in any order, 8 then 2 or 2 then 8. And you can chain them together 2, 8, 2, 8, etc...

Does that make sense?

 

Just a note I do not recommend using the split berth on paper logs unless you understand it fully and are better than average at math. It can get you in trouble. If you use elogs or an eobe the computer will calculate this for you automatically and add the hours, but it helps to know what will be added and when so you don't find yourself stuck parked for an appointment you could have made if you scheduled your breaks properly. This is advanced logbooking and not for the newbie or someone not good with math and planning.

 

nice table, gives good info on delivery time info. I haven't broke it down that much since I have only been back otr 12 days after a 5 month break.

 

What he said^^^^ I've done it both ways and it works fine.