8h Sleeper Rule

For a complete break, it must be a minimum of 7 hrs on the larger. And a minimum of 2 on the smaller. Meaning 7/3, 8/2. So if you do 4 hours off duty, it will be treated as three. You'll still need 7 in the sleeper to complete the split.

4/6 won't work because you haven't met the criteria for the 7 portion. So even if you go over on your first portion of break, say for 5 hours. You'll still need to be in sleeper berth for 7 continuous hours on the next break to complete the cycle.

Watch the video I linked.

Old School did answer you.

You took a 4 hr break, then had 8 hours to drive. If you drove 5 hours of.that 8, then did 7 hrs in sleeper... no interruption.. you would get back

11hrs minus the 5 hours you drove between the two breaks.. so after 7 in sleeper, you would get 6 hours drive time available..

If you drove 3 hours after the 4 hr break... you would get 11hrs minus the 3 hrs, so after 7 sleeper you would get back 8 hrs of drive time.

You will never get a full 11/14 but doing a split sleeper.

Also be aware...in the situation you stated, by taking the 4 hrs off duty... it extended your 14 as you said. You MUST do 7 sleeper as part of your 10hr break in order not to violate. Long story.. but even someone who took a 34 off duty at home after extending the 14 got a ticket for violation. Makes no sense to me since you are getting a 34.

So how long did you drive after 230?

And as davy said, it is consecutive off duty minimum 2 hours... then 8 consecutive 8 sleeper.

The 8 sleeper cannot be interrupted with personal conveyence or off duty. 8 straight hours in sleeper only.

Or 7 sleeper if your off duty break was 3 hrs minimum

Thank you All for your time and replays, highly appreciated! This will give me more freedom to play with mandatory sleeper rules. On the other hand I still think this rule should be simplified. In my case, with dedicated loads, my sleeper time in the middle of the day is 4-6h every second day. If you add to this mandatory sleeper time on the end of the day you end up with 12-14h in the sleeper every second day. For drivers like me, paid by mile, it's a waste of time and money.

Thank you All,

Thank you All for your time and replays, highly appreciated! This will give me more freedom to play with mandatory sleeper rules. On the other hand I still think this rule should be simplified. In my case, with dedicated loads, my sleeper time in the middle of the day is 4-6h every second day. If you add to this mandatory sleeper time on the end of the day you end up with 12-14h in the sleeper every second day. For drivers like me, paid by mile, it's a waste of time and money.

Thank you All,

Mike, many, many drivers would agree with you, myself included. The FMCSA regulations are one size fits all and many drivers chafe under the restrictions, but it’s the government so no big surprise.

Mike, I really don't know how they could make it any more simple.

7/3 or 8/2. You get back 11 minus what you did between the breaks. If you are in reefer and you can't run a split, or don't understand it so don't do it, you wind up burning more clock than necessary.

I could be wrong but I think the question is why accumulated off-duty time throughout the day (non-consecutively) can't be used toward a split berth. For example: If you go off duty 4 separate times during the day for 1/2 hour each time. .5hr × 4 = 2hrs.

If that is the question then the answer is, "That's just the way it is."

I guess the rules makers think it is less safe to take 4 separate 1/2hr breaks (off duty) as opposed to taking one, 2hr break (off duty). Plus I supposed you'd have to add up all the on duty/driving time between each 1/2hr break and subtract it from the hrs gained after completing your split.

Thanks RealDiehl - I never felt like I was understanding the question on this one. That makes sense the way you put it. I was just struggling to understand what the question was. Somedays I just feel stupid. I want to help but I'm not following along very well. I've gotten to where I just drop out if I can tell I'm not useful.

I took his question as why couldn't he do basically any number for a split as in 4/6, 5/5. I could have interpreted it wrong.

I vaguely recall reading that the intent was to get at least 7 hours continuous rest.

I was just struggling to understand what the question was. Somedays I just feel stupid. I want to help but I'm not following along very well

If only we were all so "stupid"...😉

Yeah, Davy. That def could have been the question too. Hopefully we came up with enough answers to cover all possibilities.