The so-called “split sleeper berth” rule. For those not familiar, the split sleeper berth rule allows commercial drivers to split their mandatory 10-hour rest breaks into two non-consecutive segments and still reset their substantive time limits. The shorter of the two segments must be at least two hours long.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has updated the Hours of Service (HOS) Split Sleeper rule to provide commercial truck drivers with more flexibility in managing fatigue. In 2026, the rule allows drivers to split their mandatory 10-hour off-duty period into two shifts, such as 7/3, 8/2, or even 6/4, provided one of the periods is at least 6 hours long spent in the sleeper berth. Crucially, under the updated rules, neither period counts against the 14-hour driving window. This is a major change from older regulations where the shorter "break" would still tick down the driver's daily clock. This flexibility allows drivers to pause their day for heavy traffic, weather, or loading dock delays without being "penalized" by their own timer. For example, a driver can take a 3-hour nap in the afternoon to avoid rush hour and then "give back" those 3 hours to their available drive time later that evening. This shift aims to reduce "reckless driving" caused by drivers trying to "beat the clock" and acknowledges that rest is most effective when taken when the driver actually feels tired.