Is splitting sleeper- hours a good idea? New pilot program

Split duty and sleep was allowed for 75 years. Before the gooberment screwed crap up. And drivers were less fatigued.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Split sleeper is I can take a consistent 2 hour break any time during my day and then only have to show 8 hours in sleeper.

 

Can the 2 hour break be off duty or does it have to be sleeper?

 

The split berth provision isn't really beneficial or practical for me in most scenarios. I do utilize it from time to time, but not often.

The crux of the matter is the 14 hour rule anyways...

Until the FMCSA deals with that (again), this pilot program stuff is just window dressing.

 

You're talking about the current rule and not the study I'm assuming. If so the answer is yes. If you take a 2 hour break during the day that will count towards the split and you then need only take 8 in the berth before driving again. After the 8 though you don't have a full 11/14 available. Any time between the 2 hour break and the 8 hours in the berth counts toward the 11/14.

 

It's a great idea. What the study proposes looks very similar to the split sleeper rule we have in Canada. I don't use it that often but it's a god send at times.

 

Last year I crossed the port of entry at the Oregon (and was tagged) border going north. I had several hours left on my 11 & 14. So, I decided to stop at the Petro just past the scale and shut it down for 8 hours in the sleeper.

After my 8 hours, I had like 4.5 hours of drive time & 6.5 hours to do it in. Where I was going was only a little over 3 hrs away and I was going home nearby after that anyways.

When I crossed the scale at Boomer Hill around 0430, the guy was open. Because of the tagging procedure Oregon uses, the guy stopped me cold in my tracks, red light and STOP!!!

He walks out to me acting like he's got a flopping fish on the line.
Weigh master: "Sir, I show you crossed the port of entry at (such & such time) yesterday evening"...
Me: "Yes sir, that's correct, I did"...
Weigh master: "Well then, there's no way you could of completed a 10 hour break and be here at this time"...
Me: "I didn't complete a 10 hour break sir, is there something wrong with that?"...
Weigh master:" of course there is, you're in violation."
Me: "I AM???" LOL

The look on his face was priceless as he walked away after I explained the 8/2 split berth provision to him

 

If you wanna see how Nazi the State of Oregon is on scale crossings, here's a posted summary (partial) of my scale crossings on Friday. I was tagged at every crossing except for Boomer Hill (Booth Ranch) NB on my way home. I pulled this info from my account at oregontruckingonline.com

Oregon wants to make sure they collect that 16.5 cents per mile road tax