It's important to note that off duty time is distinct from sleeper berth time. While off duty time is spent away from the commercial motor vehicle (CMV), sleeper berth time refers to the period when a driver rests or sleeps in the sleeper berth compartment of the CMV as defined in sect 393.76 Sleeper berths .

In 2026, the short answer is no, not if you are looking to "split" your mandatory rest period to extend your driving window. Under the latest FMCSA and Department of Justice Canada regulations, to qualify for a "Split Sleeper Berth" exception (such as the 8/2 or 7/3 split), the primary rest period must be spent in the sleeper berth. While the shorter "break" portion of a split can be taken as "Off Duty" (in a hotel or elsewhere), the main block of rest is legally required to be in a compliant sleeper berth to "pause" the 14-hour clock. If you are simply taking a full 10-hour reset, you can use "Off Duty" (Status 1) instead of "Sleeper Berth" (Status 2), but you lose the specific flexibility of the splitting rules. Professional drivers in 2026 are increasingly using the "Flexible Sleeper Berth" pilot programs, which allow for more nuanced splits like 6/4 or 5/5, but these still strictly mandate that the periods are spent resting in a berth that meets the specific dimensions and safety requirements of the vehicle’s logbook software.