U.S. Study Looks at Sleeper Berth Alternatives

WASHINGTON — A study prepared for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is suggesting that drivers in the U.S. should have more flexibility in how they break up their sleep using the split sleeper berth in the hours-of-service rules.

The study examined two evenly split 5-hour sleep periods from 3a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m, to consolidated sleep periods at night and during the day.

According to the study results, 10-hour nighttime sleep was still the best, but splitting sleep was better than a solid 10-hour slumber.

The study compared two evenly split 5-hour sleep periods, from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., to consolidated sleep periods at night and during the day.

Good news for many U.S. carriers that view the current sleeper rule as too restrictive. (The current rule requires at least eight consecutive hours in the berth, plus another two hours.)

Here in Canada, drivers can split their 10 hours of sleeper berth any way they please, as long as one period is at least two hours.


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