Sleeper Q

[DannyD]

I hope this Q is in the right section. I've done a fair amount of searching & still have a few Q's. I checked w/ the DOT & found the log rules. I understand the X amount of hours per either 7 or 8 days. My question involves the rest periods (of 8 hours & 2 hours).

Are there certain types of sleepers that don't qualify for that rest period & you'd have to simply be off duty? Do they have to be a certain size or something? I hope I'm asking the question right. I guess what I'm asking is are there sleepers that while they might be a bed for ya to sleep on, don't do you any good in terms of being able continue driving.

Sorry for the confusing Q & thanx for your help.

 

[arkjarhead]

It at least has to be 24" inches in length but I don't remember the depth. Pretty much any sleeper on a truck will qualify.

 

[Moot]

Greetings Danny. How have you been? It appears you have a new venture in the works. Did you win a truck in a poker game?

 

[moose]

Here Yah Go :

Justia :: 49 C.F.R. § 393.76   Sleeper berths.

 

[highway star]

The rest break is 10 hours that can be split to 8&2, but I've never found myself in a position to need to do that. Although, if I truly understood how it's done, maybe I would use it.

As far as the sleeper itself, you really only need to be concerned about it being DOT legal if it's home made. If the truck was built with a sleeper it'll be good to go.

 

[arkjarhead]

I've seen some straight trucks with sleepers built in the front end of the box. I guess you have plenty of head room.

 

[DannyD]

Hey Moot,

The poker is going well. I'm a small stakes player though. So it's more like extra $$ rather than $$ to live on. My expenses are pretty much nil & I'm bored silly hardly ever leaving the house.

With laptops, tv's & such I could easily handle being on the road a lot longer. I'll still never be one of those guys out for 3 weeks straight, but a week or so could be done w/out a problem. My challenge has never been the driving. I've always enjoyed that. It's the sitting & waiting for the next load. I know there's a lot of that these days, probably more so than in the past, but as long as I have more than a book I'm fine w/ it.

So yea, looking at my options here. I had thought of getting a 26,000 reefer until I searched here & I guess most of that type freight is a lot heavier.

I've talked w/ one well respected company here & I can see why they're so highly thought of. My challenge w/ them is if I sign on w/ a cargo van, I can't really grow into a straight truck w/out 2 years of straight truck experience. I may sign on w/ em anyway if they'll let me. I'll be upfront w/ em & tell em that my goal is to get a straight truck. Then let them decide if they want me or not.

Another option that came across my mind was to drive someone elses truck. Challenges there are I don't have a CDL yet & most of them I would imagine want teams. The CDL I'll get taken care of but I really wanna be a solo. Plus I have no experience w/ a straight truck.

So yea, I'm doing some searching here & trying to figure it all out. I don't need a ton of $$. I just wanna do something that I'm happy at & not go broke doing it.

To the other posts, thanx for the links & comments. That took a load (pun intended) off my mind on the sleeper issue.