FMCSA Hours of Service Guide: What Drivers & Supervisors Should Know

A driver recently called me looking for help after being terminated for an alleged Hours of Service violation. He believed that the nine hours he spent riding on a bus counted as Sleeper Berth time. It did not. When a property-carrying CMV driver travels at the direction of the motor carrier—but is not driving or performing other work—that travel time is normally on-duty time. It can be treated as off-duty only if the driver is given at least 10 consecutive hours off duty after arriving at the destination. In this case, the driver rode the bus for approximately nine hours and began driving roughly three hours after the bus trip ended. Because he did not receive the required 10 consecutive hours off duty after arriving, the bus travel could not be recorded as off-duty time. It was on-duty time. A bus ride is not Sleeper Berth time. The sleeper-berth exception applies to qualifying time in a sleeper berth and, in limited circumstances, time riding in the passenger seat of a moving commercial motor vehicle—not to travel on a bus. Once the bus time was properly counted as on-duty, the driver’s available hours were not what he believed they were. Based on the facts he gave me, the carrier’s decision to terminate him for the HOS violation was appropriate. The lesson is simple: do not assume travel time is off duty, and do not confuse travel time with Sleeper Berth time. Before you drive, make sure you have a legal restart of your available hours. This video is for general training purposes. Individual facts and carrier policies can matter. OFFICIAL FMCSA HOURS OF SERVICE RESOURCES https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations... ABOUT BILL COLLINS Bill has taught commercial drivers since 1998 and personally instructed approximately 10,000 students. He is a longtime Class A CDL holder and former owner of Interstate Truck Driving School. https://www.truenorthcdl.com/about/ ABOUT THE $99 HAZMAT FALL SPECIAL True North’s online Hazmat ELDT theory training includes a virtual orientation, course materials and a live review and theory assessment with Bill. Students must be at least 21. Currently unavailable in Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Training covers the Hazmat ELDT theory portion, the state knowledge test, and other endorsement requirements remain separate. This video provides educational commentary on FMCSA resources. It is not an official FMCSA video or a complete Hours of Service training course. Consult current official guidance for your operation. #HoursOfService #CDLTraining #TrueNorthCDL