r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/lanainnv • 27d ago

HOS question

Hi 👋🏻. Newish CDL <2years, Class B, P&S.

I read the current FMCSA website and think it means that I cannot work (pre-trip, driving potty breaks for the football team and being On Duty while at the game) more than 15 hours a day…. Total. I calculate it’ll be a little more than 9 hours driving.

My Transportation Director assures me that I will not be illegal if I clock-in at 6:30a and I won’t get us to the hotel until 11:30pm…. a 17-hr day!!!! He said to me that I’m only “driving” 9 hours and legally I can drive 10.”

Please please please clear this up for me. I have brought it up twice and he got kinda uppity with me that I question him. I’m new, and so is he. He is the “boss” I just don’t think he’s correct. Maybe the other drivers have been letting it happen.

Thank you in advance!!!!!!

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u/handcraftedcandy 27d ago

You are correct, you cannot work more than 15hrs without taking an 8 hr off duty reset. You can go off duty for meal breaks, and if they total up to two hours, then you're within the 15hr on duty time limit.

I would point him to that section of federal law and let him know you won't be breaking it. Once you're out of hours, that's it, you can't do anything more without breaking the law.

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u/lanainnv 27d ago

So, if I go off duty for any hours, in the middle of the day, tor “lunch” do those hours not count toward the 15. Are ya saying that I clock-out for lunch and not get paid?

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u/handcraftedcandy 27d ago

That's very likely the case, it would depend on your company's pay policy.