What changed

FMCSA reaffirmed the 2020 sleeper-berth final rule on November 12, 2025. The rule lets a CMV driver split the required 10-hour off-duty period into two qualifying segments under 49 CFR §395.1(g). Acceptable splits include 8+2, 7+3, or any combination where one segment is at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth and the other at least 2 hours off duty (or in the sleeper berth).

Neither segment counts against the 14-hour driving window - meaning the driver can effectively pause the 14-hour clock during the split.

Why this matters

The split provision is the most flexible HOS tool available to long-haul drivers. It allows split-shift operations across time zones, around traffic, or to maximize the number of viable shipper appointments in a multi-day run.

Common compliant patterns: an 8-hour sleeper berth + 2-hour break for a meal stop, then resume driving for another 10 hours; a 7-hour sleeper + 3-hour off-duty (e.g., a long lunch with errands), then back on the road.

Common errors

ELD time-stamping mistakes are the most common split-related violation. The sleeper berth segment must be entered as sleeper status (not off-duty), and the secondary segment must be at least 2 hours of off-duty or sleeper time. ELDs configured with default 30-minute break entries can corrupt the split if the driver misses a manual annotation.

Ensure your ELD vendor's split-sleeper handling is documented and trained - KeepTruckin / Motive, Samsara, and Geotab all have known correct configurations, but the driver-side workflow varies by device.

What to do next

Train drivers on the split-sleeper rule and pair it with ELD-vendor specific entry instructions. Document the training in the DQ file. Our /guides/dot-compliance-handbook page covers the complete HOS framework.