Logs, How to Maximize Your Hours legally!!!

Using the "Sleeper Berth Option" is the best way for a driver to get the most from their hours of service. Surprisingly, most drivers do not know how to correctly apply this rule. Drivers who continue to look for eight consecutive hours off either in the sleeper berth or off-duty will sooner or later find themselves out of hours or in the wrong place at the wrong time. A driver who makes the statement "I can't run legal and make a living" or consistently runs out of hours probably doesn't understand how to apply the sleeper berth option. The same driver is a likely candidate to participate in the worst possible offense, for both the driver and the company, and that is to falsify logs. The use of the sleeper berth option sounds basic enough but even the most experienced driver can have trouble putting it into practice. You should never assume that a driver understands. Have them walk through the steps, ask them questions, discuss real life applications of this rule, and watch the response. You might be surprised. Here are some steps to help you in understanding this rule:

The secret: you don't have to take your sleeper berth time all at once, you can get eight hours rest off-duty by breaking it into two periods.*

The following scenario will use ICC rules (ten hours maximum drive time) CA drivers apply the 12 hour rule:

Tom Trucker drives five hours then logs two hours sleeper berth, then drives five more hours. Tom is now at maximum drive hours and must log a minimum of six sleeper berth hours before he can drive [2+6]. After logging the six hours sleeper he can now drive only five more hours, not ten (his five hour shift between sleep periods counts toward his ten). Tom is once again at maximum hours drive time but now must log only two hours s1eeper berth [6+2] before he can drive again.

Now, for the sake of this demonstration, Tom logged no on-duty time which is not going to happen in the real world. The point drivers have to understand is using the sleeper berth option instead of searching for eight consecutive hours is more consistent with real driving habits and will help keep logs accurate and legal. In addition, a driver who breaks up his driver time is less likely to be come fatigued.

Points of caution:

• Watch your on-duty time, no driving is allowed after 15 hours on-duty;
• At least eight hours rest in two legal periods or less is required in each 24 hour period;
• Only ten hours of driving (12 in CA) in 15 consecutive on-duty hours;
• You can add only two sleeper shifts together;
• You cannot combine sleeper berth time with off-duty time;
• Off-duty time only stops on-duty time from accumulating unless its eight consecutive hours, it does not save or reset hours;
• You do not have to be asleep to log sleeper berth time, you must be in the bunk resting and not behind the wheel.

Fatigue is not necessarily measured in hours. A tired driver is a dangerous driver whether they have logged two hours or ten. If you have any questions about logs, fax them to 1-800-669-2699 and we will try to answer them in future articles.