Coming To Grips With HOS

I am struggling to understand the HOS requirements. My question is this:

Is there still a provision which allows you to "pause" the 14-hour clock by spending 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth?

At my school I asked the trainer and he quoted me information from the Split-Sleeper Berth option (which did not really answer my question). In addition, we were issued a hand out which states "The 14-hour clock starts when a driver comes on duty and can only be stopped with a minimum two hour break in the sleeper."

Can anyone help me clear up my confusion?

The split sleeper berth is addressed in the High Roads Training on this site. It should be able to give you a definitive answer to your question. Best of luck to you in your training.

The split sleeper berth is addressed in the High Roads Training on this site. It should be able to give you a definitive answer to your question. Best of luck to you in your training.

Thanks Diver. I guess the rule of the day is.... The rules will change! I understand now that the 34-hour restart has changed where you don't have to have two periods within the hours of 0100 to 0500.

I spoke with my trainer again today, and it has become apparent that even he does not understand it all. Unless he is correct and the High Road Training is incorrect (which I kinda doubt). In any case I have decided not to sweat it, as it does not affect me earning my CDL-A. That's why we have OJT!

I went through the High Roads Training, but that split sleeper berth is quite discombobulated to me. The instructors at my school said it exists, but they won't get in to it. LOL Maybe once I'm out with a trainer I'll get a better understanding of it too. But like you said, it won't keep you from getting your CDL and me neither!

Two things. First, Split sleeper time.

Search TT for the term. There are a few experienced drivers here who do understand it. But it's not something you would use very often. I've tried it a few times. My impression: No time is "created", your usual time limits are shuffled a bit. Watch your Qualcomm , after 8 hours SB, you will see the numbers jump. You "get back" only what you had when your SB time started. You may drive the time you got back, but you still need to take a 2 hour siesta to fully reset your day. Also, I think your new 14 starts back when you ended that 8 hour break.

Use it when you get to a shipper or receiver who is closed, but will open 8 hours later. (That's not weird, you pull into town at midnight, the office opens at 7:30am). Do your business, then finish out your 2 hours.

The other thing: time limits. You are working with 8 hours for a 30 minute break; 11 hours drive, 14 hours for the shift. Keep this in mind: as far as HOS is concerned, your OFF TIME can be longer (45 min. to 1 hour break = "30 minute" break. 10 hour break can stretch longer. On the other side, your 11 drive or 14 hour shift can be cut short. F'rinstance, 12 hours into your day, you have a reason to knock off, then you switch to Sleeper for 10 hours & you start refreshed!