Another HOS Question

I am driving to California from Chicago next week for a trade convention. I'm picking up a Ryder Class B truck the first part of next week and I have to arrive in Anaheim by 7:00am Monday Morning. I'm trying to clarify my understanding of HOS. Which applies to me - the 70-hour time or the 80-hour time? Also I understand that taking a 34-hour break at any time automatically resets the clock and starts a new shift. Correct?

You have the right information. The difference in the 70 or 80 work week is if your company shuts down for weekends. If there's no Sat-Sun business you base your work on 70 hours (includes "today"). If your company operates over weekends, use the 80 hour week.

As for the 34 hour break, yes, it erases the whole chalkboard, and everything including the 80 hour stuff goes to zero.

That's what I thought. So, the thing to to do is, try to start with a full clock when starting the trip. One other thing: If you reach a 7-days but you have been on duty only, say, 40 hours or 50 you can keep going until the 70- (or 80-) hour limit is reached?

If you're at a trade show, you'll most likely be doing 34 hours off duty or on sleeper berth , every time you do that it's called a 34 hour reset. You'll get a fresh 70 hour clock.

To answer your specific question. Yes, your remaining time from your 70 will be there to use. After 8 days, your regain the hours you worked 8 days prior. That's what's called recaps.

I did something similar to what you're about to do but I did it as a volunteer. My 70 hour clock was never an issue. Just my 14, my 8 & getting those breaks in.

So at the end of 8 days if you still have not worked a full 80 hours but you have done everything else - the 10, the 8, the 30 minute break - the clock resets whether you have taken 34 hours or not? From your reply. it seems if you do it that way the 34-hour limit would never kick in. But, you're right - I'll get one anyway, because I will be there for the entire convention (the NAMM convention which lasts four days).

So at the end of 8 days if you still have not worked a full 80 hours but you have done everything else - the 10, the 8, the 30 minute break - the clock resets whether you have taken 34 hours or not? From your reply. it seems if you do it that way the 34-hour limit would never kick in. But, you're right - I'll get one anyway, because I will be there for the entire convention (the NAMM convention which lasts four days).

Negative. The 70 only resets after a 34 hour off duty or sleeper berth status.

After 8 days, the hours you drove 8 days prior get added back to your 70 hour clock. Referred to as recaps.

If I run an average of 8.5 hours daily, I'll never run out of hours. 70 ÷ 8.5 = 8.2 days

But again, you dont need to worry about that cause you'll definitely get a fresh clock after the 4 days. You're only concern is running your 14/10/8 clocks legally & making sure you do your pre/post trips on duty each day you run your truck. Not necessary when truck is parked for the day.

Don't consider 34 hits as a limit. It's a minimum time off to reset your focus. If you took a true weekend (48 hours) off, that resets your clocks just the same.

Keep this in mind: breaks benefit you - they're time off. You can take time off as often and as much as you need. But 30 (or more) minutes off allows you to drive 8 more hours. 10 (or more) hours off allows you to have another 14 hours day. 34 (or more) hours off lets you start another 8 day week.

Driving and duty time benefit the company. These have limits. No more than 8 hours driving without a break. No more than 11 hours driving on any given day. No more than 70 hours driving + duty in the last 8 days, including "today".

(The things you are asking about are truly things you need to know, and it seems crazy until you actually start living these HOS rules. Then it will seem normal. This is a very common situation.)

Driving time is truly limited to 11 hours maximum per 14 hour shift. On duty time is different. If you start your day at 6:00 am, you have 14 hours to get any is off your driving in. 6am + 14 hours is 8:00pm. But your on duty time store when you get off duty, even if that's 9:30 pm. After 8pm you can't do any more driving but to can still be in duty without penalty. But you can't drive again till you have a 10 hour break from either driving or duty. A super long day is not a regular thing but the rules allow for the situation.

The 70 hours/8 days linit is a rolling total. You can't go over 70 his work in any 8 days. If you're total work hours gets to 70 in an 8 day period you must stop and wait till the time you worked a week ago is available, at midnight.

Here's a "game" I invented to help you understand: 70 Hours On Duty