“Waiting time” at a terminal, plant, or port may be recorded as off duty, sleeper berth, or on duty/not driving, depending on specific circumstances.
For “waiting time” to be off duty, the following off-duty conditions must be met:
- The driver must be relieved of all duty and responsibility for the care and custody of the vehicle, its accessories, and any cargo or passengers it may be carrying; and
- During the stop, and for the duration of the stop, the driver must be at liberty to pursue activities of his/her own choosing.
If both conditions are true, the time spent waiting can be recorded as off-duty even if the driver chooses to stay in the vehicle. Also, if a driver can utilize a valid sleeper berth, that time may be recorded as “sleeper berth.”
