US Split Sleeper Berth Rule

Updated December 23, 2025 11:00

What is the Split Sleeper Berth Rule?

The sleeper berth provision allows drivers to split their required 10-hour off-duty period into two qualifying periods (e.g., 3/7 split sleeper berth, 8/2 and 7.5/2.5 sleeper berth split break), provided one off-duty period (whether in or out of the sleeper berth) is at least 2 hours long. The second off-duty period is at least 7 consecutive hours spent in the sleeper berth.
Just so you know – the 2 periods must sum up to 10 hours total (know more about the 10-hour sleeper berth rule).
When used together, neither period counts against the maximum 14-hour shift window.

How does Split Sleeper Berth provision work on the Driver App

The Split Sleeper feature on the Driver App includes the ability for drivers to use a split sleeper toggle to recalculate their clocks before both qualifying periods are met – See more details in Feature Overview
This feature gives drivers the ability to better track their available hours before the completion of both qualifying periods to meet the Sleeper Berth Provision.

How the Split Sleeper duty status on Driver App Helps You

Drivers can easily extend their on-duty period by splitting off-duty periods.
Drivers can view their remaining hours before the completion of both periods to better track their available hours

Split Sleeper Berth on Driver App Overview

Split Sleeper toggle on the Driver App allows the driver to split their required 10-hour off-duty shift, provided that one off-duty/sleeper berth break is at least 2 hours long and a second off-duty break minimum of 7 consecutive hours long spent in sleeper berth. The longer chunk of Split Sleeper Berth time must be logged only as "Sleeper Berth Status", regardless of whether it is the first or second segment.
The Split Sleeper toggle is only available once the minimum requirement is complete, which is at least 2 hours into sleeper berth/off-duty.
It turns on multiple clocks (Split SB Clocks) to break off-duty time into multiple periods.
Turning on the toggle allows the drivers to view Driving and On-Duty hours left before they complete both qualifying periods to meet the Sleeper Berth Provision.
Drivers can switch between both clocks to start on-duty or off-duty status.

Once the driver ends his shift, the hours are recalculated and shown in the app.

Note: The time spent on ON Duty and/or Driving statuses between the two chunks of split sleeper berth gets deducted and the driver gets the remaining hours in the next shift.

The drivers can review their split sleeper hours history of a week under the HOS recap. For step-by-step instructions, see How to Use Split Sleeper Berth Toggle in Driver App.

Get more details on the sleeper berth rule on split sleeper berth FMCSA.

Disabling Sleeper Berth duty status

Fleet admins can manually disable the availability of the sleeper berth status to drivers in the Driver App by unchecking the checkbox next to Vehicle includes a sleeper berth.

To manually disable the sleeper berth duty status in an existing vehicle:

Go to Admin > Vehicle.
Click the three dots > View vehicle details.
Click Vehicle Details > Edit.
Uncheck the checkbox Vehicle includes a sleeper berth.
Click Save.

Enabling Sleeper Berth duty status in bulk

Go to the Motive Fleet Dashboard and click the Admin icon.
Click Vehicles.
Select the Vehicles you want to make changes to and click Edit.
Click General: Sleeper berth.
Click the Selected settings dropdown menu, and select Yes.
Click Save.
Click Confirm.
A message pops up confirming the bulk updates.

FAQs

Would the Driver get 11 hours of driving after completing a split sleeper chunk(bigger or smaller)?

No, as that depends upon the Driver's previous day's driving hours.

Can a split sleeper with a bigger chunk be on off duty?

Split sleeper qualifying bigger chunk is always supposed to be on "SB" status. However, the smaller chunk could be Off Duty.

What are the conditions to apply the split sleeper berth

In order to apply for the split sleeper berth, the Driver must meet the following conditions:
- The Driver needs 7 or 8 hours on a sleeper berth status specifically.
- The second half of the split needs to be either 2 or 3 hours on off-duty or split sleeper berth status.
When the first half is completed, split clocks appear on the Driver's application. Then, Drivers can view how many split driving hours and shift hours are available for them.
However, it is mandatory to complete the second half of the split; otherwise, the Driver gets a violation. These split sleeper berth provision breaks are required to be taken alternatively.

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