The Sleeper Berth Rule EXPLAINED (Reset the Clock?)

What is the Sleeper Berth Rule? The Sleeper Berth Rule is part of the Hours of Service Rules for commercial vehicle drivers that were published in 2011 as a way for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (or the FMCSA) to monitor working hours of anyone operating commercial motor vehicles with a CDL in the US.
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The Sleeper Berth Rule Explained
Designed to eliminate accidents caused by driver fatigue, the ruling determines the maximum number of consecutive hours a commercial truck driver or other types of commercial vehicle operators can drive or work before taking a mandatory rest break.
Though the sleeper berth provision was created to establish safer driving habits and flexibility, it remains a complex aspect of the Hours of Service rules for drivers and fleet managers alike. The confusion is largely due to the split sleeper berth amendment. This rule allows a driver to extend an on-duty period by splitting up the required 10 hours of off-duty time mandated by the sleeper berth provision.
So, why would a driver want to take split sleeper berth time?
- Drivers have a 14-hour window to drive a maximum of 11 hours and are required to take a 30-minute break every eight hours.
- The sleeper berth provision states that once these driving limits are reached, a driver is required to be off-duty for at least 10 consecutive hours before they can resume driving.
- The “driving clock” can only be reset when operators take the minimum 10-hour break.
The 14-hour rule can be problematic for drivers, especially if the time it takes to complete a route misaligns with the operating hours of a destination.
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