Sleep? How much do newbee's get while OTR?

How much sleep do we get? Is there a law for truckers about the amount we need? please explain

 

I team with my husband. I snarl and cry if I don't get enough sleep. My team encourages me to sleep! LOL We've learned from our DM to set our PTA as WE need not as they need. I'm constantly monitoring both his and my sleep time not just our DOT 10.

But as to your question: I require more sleep than the average person (maybe I'm a bear?) I need 9 rather than 8 as most folks do. So what I've lost is "make up and hair" time. The public suffers from this but at least I get my sleep.

 

There is no law regulating sleep . There are actually no laws controlling working hours other than driving . You cannot drive more than 11 hours without a ten hour break or working more than 70 hours in 8 days or 60 hours in 7 days if a company doesn't have a 7 day a week operation . You can drive 11 hours and then work 8 hours on a dock and not be in violation . Breaks in a sleeper berth must be at least 8 consecutive hours to stop the 14 hour clock .
The "Off Duty" breaks require no sleep . Drivers are allowed to drive unladen trucks back and forth between the terminal and home or to restaurants and hotels while logged off duty . A driver could work a full 14 hour day , (say 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. ) drive an hour home , play ball with the kids a couple of hours , spend a couple of hours having dinner and watchig tv , go to be and make love to his wife for an hour or more , get 4 or less hours sleep , drive an hour back to the terminal , and legally have his 10 hours off duty .

 

thats scary! I mean if some A hole hurts me or my family in a rig while im on the road because they only got maybe 4 hours of sleep in a 11 hour work day then he's gonna get it.

I hope people are getting smarter about that! How do you work 8 hours on the dock if your a truck driver? I'm confused a little on that aspect. Heck I once worked two 12 hour shifts for a security firm back to back tried to drive 50 miles and made it 6 blocks from my apartment and blacked out for a sec and got hit but lucky for me the guy that hit me it was his fault I blacked out right before he hit me and that was maybe 10 sec at the most. i woke up fast tried to floor my car with the 4 banger spun the tires on wet ground due to rain and got hit.

 

Ever see trucks parked at casinos ? How much of their off duty time do you think is spent at the slots ? Working the dcks was just an example . The scenarios are unlimited . A driver might own a farm and spend most of his restart working crops . You can't regulate rest .

 

4 hours sleep, thats a long night for alot of drivers. You dont know the half of it. It is alot worse than that. Try 20 to 24 hours out driving and loading, and dispatchers pushing for more. Its about the greed of the big companies. If you want to know who's responsible follow the money. The law makers turn a blind eye because of the amount of money that supports them.

Experienced drivers can not really say too much in a open forum because of liability, or fear of reprisals. Regarding logging, driving, etc. If a guy was to list what really goes on and how its covered in log books DOT would be banging on his door. The best we can hope for is that new drivers will survive long enough to learn to say know to dispatch when they are too tired to drive safely.

 

well lucky for me if they try that crap I have TWO attorneys in my family... Father/Sis I won't bring that fact up but I will for sure know my rights ect very soon!

People need to start protecting them selves and the OTHER people on the road! I have two little kids I drive to grandma's 15 times a year over 250 miles! I want responsible truckers on the road

 

I sleep until I wake up.However long or short that may be. The best way I've found for me.

 

Oh so it is the trucker that is dangerous? It is the truckers fault?

Out of those 4000 miles you drive to grandma's how many close calls did you have with truckers?How many with cars?

I ride motorcycle and have had far more cars try to kill me that truckers.I can't remember a time a trucker has cut me off or try to turn in front of me.Yet a car does it all day long.

I am not saying truckers don't screw up but it is far less than what you imply.I would also bet that 90% of trucker accidents were caused by a car.

You need to remember a trucker is a professional.A car driver may have his/her head pull out of their ...

 

what i meant was truckers that don't sleep like they should are the same as 4 wheeler people.. IF you don't get your rest and drive a truck fully loaded your going to kill your self or someone else eventually! IT WILL Catch up with you