60/7 or 70/8 that is the question

I used line 2 a lot whenever I could when I was OTR. It says in the FMCSR handbook that sleeper berth can be logged to denote any inactivity. I know many drivers use line 1 to save time but I believe that is meant for restarts or other extended times when you are unlikely to be called back to active work at a moments notice.

Using line 4 should be used for fueling, safety inspections, loading/unloading (15 minutes each). While line 4 does not take away drive time per shift it does consumes time off your 70 hour clock so anytime you can use line 2 I would do it. Protect that 70 hr clock as much as you can.

 

Doesn't the operation and/our the company often determine whether you do 60 hours/7 days or 70 hours/8 days?

 

Yes, but that was not his question. I was about to address that (because of the thread title) but then realized his question was about conserving his HOS not which HOS he was under.

 

I do not understand what difference it makes using line 2 or line 1. Once you start the 14 it doesn't matter if you use line 1 or 2. Or am I missing something?

 

Thanks, that is what I thought. I couldn't remember the exact regulations but thought we were pretty much tied to a single choice.

 

Elendil you are correct on the 14 hour rule. The OP was about on duty time. What I generally do is go to the sleeper berth when I don't have to be on the dock. I also show 15 minutes for checking in when I unload or load. This way it doesn't eat into my 70.

 

Line 1 can become a problem when they start picking at if you were really off duty or not.
Running hard every minutee counts and 70 hours can get used up quickly.

 

I choose to use line 2. Other drivers would log line 1 to denote a period of inactivity. When I read the FMCSR handbook it specifically stated that line 2 could be used for this purpose. No where did I see (it might be there but I didn't see it) that line 1 could be used for this purpose.

To me, my perception is that "off duty" means you are not responsible for a load or awaiting an event (like loading or weather to improve) to be completed to begin active duty again. To me "off duty" means you're out of the truck likely at home or on a restart. Neither line 1 nor line 2 consumes time off your HOS clock but my belief, based upon what I read in the FMCSR handbook is that line 2 is to be used during your 14 hr shift and line 1 or 2 can be used on 10 hr breaks or restarts.