HOS -WHEN TO TAKE MY 30MINS

Riiiight?

Yeah, your explanation was great and quite helpful!

I was just finishing up my week when I first responded. Don't know why I had to point out my experience level. I'm still a newb.

I like the idea of taking my 30-mins relatively early and you explained how to do that. Unless there's snow and ice, my run usually takes about 9.5-10 hours on a really good night.

I often take my 30 mins at the 2-hour mark and then go as far as I can before a rest stop. If the trailer is loaded on time (usually, it is ... I know... It's wonderful) I have a full 11 hours to get there, which allows for construction, boo-boos, mishaps, accident traffic, etc. If I leave on time and push hard, I can get there in 7.75 hours after that.

During my 30-min break, two hours into my trip, I run into WalMart, grab my food for the next two days, throw it into my electric cooler and go. It's psychological for me. This way I've rolled for 2 hours, I'm in my zone, then I get what I need and I feel like I'm set and ready to rock for the rest of the night.

Mentally, waiting till later in the run doesn't work as well for me and there's no WalMart at that juncture.

I have driver friends who are at their 7.5 hour mark and their electronic log is telling them they have 29 mins to start THEIR break and I'm wondering why mine has to be taken at the 6th hour.

So COOL!

I KNEW I could count on you!

Thank you!

-mountain girl

Mountain Girl, you do it how you want to do it. Your explanation makes perfect sense to me, and as long as you are on time and are making it all happen right there's no reason for you to switch it up.

Thanks, Old School.

You're a quick napper, man. That was no 8 hours. Typical. LOL.

-mountain girl

That's pretty terrible if they are making you take your break at a certain time. All the breaks are supposed to be the drivers tools and are given to us to use. Not to mention that it's pretty unhealthy to sit there and drive for 5,6,7 hours straight without moving.

I sometimes take upwards of 4 breaks in my 11. I figured as long as I'm not in my 14 I'm fine. And really, as long as you get your load there safely and in time, why should it matter to the company?

What if you want to split your break and take 2 hours even? Or would they prefer you drive half asleep.

Isaac,

Oh, nay-nay. I can take as many breaks as I want, as long as I'm there on time. I must not have been clear. If I take a break at two hours, that's fine but they also want to see a break between the sixth and seventh hour. Somehow, someone at corporate has misinterpreted the regulation and is convinced I'll get a ticket for taking a break at the wrong time. By insisting on this, they've been trying to protect my best interests, albeit incorrectly. See what I mean?

-mountain girl

Hey Everyone,

I'm being told at work that I must take my 30-min break between certain hours of driving, i.e., between the 5th and 7th hour, or something like that.

Is this true?

I thought, as long as I took my break before the 8th hour started, WHEN I took it was at my discretion.

I can neither find this supposed prevision or amendment in my FMCSR nor on the DOT website.

To keep it simple, I make no stops along the way for delivery, etc. I just drive, drop, and swap.

Please lemme know if this is true and where to find it written in the green book or on the DOT website.

Thanks.

-mountain girl

For some reason our company forces city drivers to take a 30 between the 3d and 6th hour but road drivers are permitted to take a 30 anytime before their 8th hour.

Doesn't make any sense to me .