Split Sleeper Berth

Hello, I had a question about split sleeper berth.

1. Is there a minimum number of hours to drive before doing a split sleeper berth?

Like do you need to drive 3 hours or four or more before you can do a split sleeper berth?

2. The way it works is you drive for the minimum amount and then you go "off" for two hours but you gain back eight hours or you go "off" three hours and gain back seven hours. Is my understanding correct?

Thanks for the help.

Pelican

There's no minimum required. I've used it very early into my shift before. In fact I may use it this morning.

I have a live load 3 blocks from terminal. I'll have pretrip and about 10 minutes of driving in. They are a notoriously slow shipper. I expect to be there at the dock for 4 to 5 hours.

The split berth functions in a nutshell to pause your 14 hour after 2 or 3 hours. It pauses from the time you started that portion. Then, when you complete the second portion of the break, either 8 or 7 respectively to the 2 or 3 portion, you will recieve a 14 hour and 11 hour clock MINUS the driving and on duty spent in between the two breaks.

In all reality, I usually just use it to pause my 14 and then spend 10 hours in sleeper at the end of my shift, it completes the second half of the break and makes it legal.

If you're going to use it, you must follow the first portion of the break by the second within the shift.

I know OS has had some really informative threads and posts on this that helped me a lot. I use it frequently, at least 2 to 3 times a week.

Pretty close to my forecast, I just shut down for the night. So I'll just do a ten hour. In today's case, it wouldn't benefit me to drive after 7 hours. Because I wouldn't get much back and it would push my availability time way out.

This is typical for me, especially in LA (shipper was Arrowhead water). For reference, it's 729 loaded miles, doesn't deliver til Monday, I'll try and drop tomorrow or get paid layover to sleep tomorrow. I have 264 miles left or so.

Thank you Davy

I use it occasionally and like Davy usually does. Pause my 14 with the short break then take my 10 later and start again with fresh clocks.

I used it today to get a much-needed nap in and still make it to my destination on time.

I am a shift driver and home daily. I drive a stubby, (lightweight sleeper) and I use sleeper birth status occasionally when sitting at a long 2+ hour load/unload to pause my clock. I go "off duty" while sitting in the cab, or if I decide to take a nap I go "sleeper birth". Both are correct. When I am done for the day, if needed I change to "sleeper birth" to get the required 8 hour minimum. We have to have a total of 10 hours "off duty/sleeper" daily. Even though I log "sleeper", I don't stay in the truck. I drive home and sleep in my own bed.

Just 1 thing I would add is show 1 minute "on duty" or "on duty yard move" before and after going to an off duty status. Remember we need to log it as we do it. After you get loaded/unloaded we need to open/shut doors, do paperwork etc. Our logs need to be accurate as possible and should reflect that. I know many OTR drivers just use "sleeper" and "drive" and only use "on duty" for the pre and post trip inspections. They try to conserve as much of their 70hr clock as possible to maximize their earnings. But, we still need to show on our logs we are doing the little stuff.

There’s no minimum, but you don’t gain back 8 hours. Taking the 2 hour or more break just stops your 14 hour clock.

I don’t have time to explain the whole thing but there are lots of threads on it here.

Hello, I had a question about split sleeper berth.

1. Is there a minimum number of hours to drive before doing a split sleeper berth?

Like do you need to drive 3 hours or four or more before you can do a split sleeper berth?

2. The way it works is you drive for the minimum amount and then you go "off" for two hours but you gain back eight hours or you go "off" three hours and gain back seven hours. Is my understanding correct?

Thanks for the help.

Pelican