Split Shifts

NOTE: These rules reflect the 2004 HOS rule changes

The Truckers Helper Log Master will allow you to enter split shifts. Here are the rules that apply:

  1. You cannot combine OFF DUTY and SLEEPER together to make up a split shift. Off Duty and Sleeper can only be combined if the total time of the break adds up to 10 hours or more.

  2. Split breaks must consist of 2 sleeper berth periods each of 2 hours or more duration and when combined together they must total 10 or more hours. If you take more than 2 sleeper berth periods then the ones that do not add up to 10+ hours will count towards your On Duty time and be deducted from your 14 hours on duty for a shift.

  3. You cannot go OFF DUTY during a SLEEPER break. In other words, if you go Off Duty for 30 minutes and then go to the Sleeper for 4 hours, the 4 hours will count as Sleeper time. If you go to the Sleeper for 2 hours and then go Off Duty for 30 minutes and then go back to the Sleeper for another 2 hours the first 2 hours becomes your Previous Break and your last 2 hours becomes your last break  The FIRST BREAK then counts as On Duty for the purpose of counting your 14 hours On Duty.  DO NOT SPLIT UP YOUR SLEEPER TIME!

  4. Split breaks CAN USE ANY 2 SLEEPER PERIODS that fall within the 14 hours on duty. For example:
    You start out from a clean 10+ hour break and drive 4 hours.
    You go to the sleeper for 5 hours.
    You get up and drive for another hour and then go to the sleeper for 2 hours.
    You get up and drive for another 4 hours.
    You go to the sleeper for another 5 hours. The 2 hours will count towards your 14 hours on duty and the previous 5 hours will combine with the prior 5 hours to make your 10 hour break.
    THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE OLD RULES THAT USED THE LAST 2 SLEEPER PERIODS.  But remember that any sleeper periods that do are not used to make the 2 QUALIFYING sleeper periods do count towards your 14 hours on duty.

Here's a couple examples of how the new rules will work:

A driver comes on duty at 6am, he drives till noon, then goes to the sleeper for 4 hours. He then returns to driving and drives for 5 hours. then goes Off Duty for 12 hours.
HE IS IN VIOLATION OF THE 14 HOUR RULE! The 4 hours in the sleeper must be counted as Off Duty for purposes of counting the 14 hours available since they are not part of a split shift.

 A driver comes on duty at 6am, he drives till noon, then goes to the sleeper for 4 hours. He then returns to driving and drives for 5 hours. then goes back to the sleeper for 6 hours and then Off Duty for 6 hours.
THIS IS A LEGITIMATE SPLIT BREAK.

A team runs 5 on 5 off. When they arrive home they go Off Duty. The final sleeper time remains valid since it is part of a 10 hour split break (the previous break).  

 There are a number of articles and a discussion of this in more detail on our web site and forum. Please read these articles for more information.