Can you EXTEND driving time by going off duty?

It was not meant as degrading. It was meant to encourage him that he was correct.

His first post stated he understood the rule. I was just clarifying that if he understood the rule, then he could answer his own question.

After all 14 hour clock has been the rule since 2004.

 

Unless you used up you entire 11 hr drivetime or 14 hour on duty time prior to your 8 hr break then you would be required to take a full 10 hr break.

If you do the 8 then 2 after the 2 hour break your 14 hour clock is reset but you only have drive time of 11 hours minus however long you drive time was between the 8 and 2 hour breaks. Example if you took 8 hours in the sleeper drove 1 hour to customer took another 2 hour in sleeper or off duty then came back on duty to drive you would only have 10 hours drivetime left. Hopefully i didn't confuse you. By the way learning this can give you a lot more flexibilty on how you are able to run loads and may save you from being late to an appt. I know it has me several times.

 

I really have no need of doing the splitting anymore.

I only deliver during 8 am and 5 pm for the most part. There is no need to alter since my pick up is done during these times as well.

 

One must also keep the 70/8 rule in mind at all times, regardless of how you spilt the sleeper/off duty time.

That is if you intend to run "legal".

The fines are pretty high for violations from what I've heard.

 

I was actually posting that for the one who asked the question that did not understand the split logging. Must be nice to have bankers hours. LOL

 

Best scenario here is if you run out of hours on the 60/70 hour rules is just take a 34 hour restart if at all possible otherwise you end up chasing your own tale like a dog and almost certain you will go over without realizing it unless you really are careful. Obviously sometimes you won't have the option to take a restart but if possible that would be my advice.

 

Roadmedic gave the best answer on split logging . Most companies won't allow it . I understand it . Some of our other drivers understand it . But every time we use it our monthly log review shows it as a violation but with no punitive action . After the second time I told my terminal manager I would only take 10 hour breaks .

 

Listen carefully.........nothing.......stops the 14 hour clock except for at least 8 hours in the sleeper. The split sleeper rule allows you to freeze the clock but you must use at least 8 hours in the sleeper to do so. And unless that other two hours is critical to getting the load delivered on time........take the 10 and start over again. I had this discussion with several logging trainers at an ex-employer followed up by asking the same question of several DOT officers in several states to make sure I had it right. They actually designed the rule to make it almost useless to try to force drivers to go ahead and take the ten.

 

You may not log off-duty (except for legal rest periods) unless the carrier gives you written permission to do so and you have a copy of that written permission with you in the vehicle. Without the written permission you must log being on-duty. Here is a copy of the FMCSA document allowing that.

This letter authorizes our driver to be Off-Duty during meal and other routine stops.
The purpose of the Federal Department of Transportation Hours of Service Regulations
(Part 395) is to keep tired drivers from operating vehicles. Under certain circumstances,
however, it appears that enroute stops for meals or other routine purposes may serve to
lessen a driver's fatigue.
Therefore, this letter is authorization for you to record your meal or other routine stops on
your logs as Off-Duty, rather than On-Duty Not Driving as would normally be the case.
However, this may be done only under all of the following circumstances.
1. Your vehicle must be parked in a safe and secure manner so as to prevent
obstruction of traffic and theft or damage to the vehicle and cargo.
2. The off-duty period must be no less than 30 minutes and no longer than 60
minutes.
3. During the off-duty period, you are relieved from responsibility from your vehicle
and cargo.
4. During the off-duty period, you are free to leave the premises on which your
vehicle is parked and to pursue activities of your choosing, as long as your ability
to safely operate your vehicle is not impaired as required by Part 392, "Driving of
Vehicles", of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Driver Supervisor Date

And here is the rule telling you what is considered duty time....

TITLE 49
TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER III
FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PART 395
HOURS OF SERVICE OF DRIVERS
Table of Contents
Sec. 395.2 Definitions.

On duty time means all time from the time a driver begins to work or is required to be in readiness to work until the time the driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work. On duty time shall include: (1) All time at a plant, terminal, facility, or other property of a motor carrier or shipper, or on any public property, waiting to be dispatched, unless the driver has been relieved from duty by the motor carrier; (2) All time inspecting, servicing, or conditioning any commercial motor vehicle at any time; (3) All driving time as defined in the term driving time; (4) All time, other than driving time, in or upon any commercial motor vehicle except time spent resting in a sleeper berth; (5) All time loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle, supervising, or assisting in the loading or unloading, attending a commercial motor vehicle being loaded or unloaded, remaining in readiness to operate the commercial motor vehicle, or in giving or receiving receipts for shipments loaded or unloaded; (6) All time repairing, obtaining assistance, or remaining in attendance upon a disabled commercial motor vehicle; (7) All time spent providing a breath sample or urine specimen, including travel time to and from the collection site, in order to comply with the random, reasonable suspicion, post- accident, or follow-up testing required by part 382 of this subchapter when directed by a motor carrier; Performing any other work in the capacity, employ, or service of a motor carrier; and (9) Performing any compensated work for a person who is not a motor carrier.