Read a day in four duty statuses
Choose a status based on the activity, not the hours you want left.
The four duty statuses
A log divides the day into four statuses. Choose the one that describes what the driver is actually doing.
| Status | What it represents | Typical activity |
|---|---|---|
| Off duty | Released from work and responsibility | Personal time after release |
| Sleeper berth | Rest in a qualifying sleeper berth | Resting in the truck’s berth |
| Driving | Operating the CMV in driving activity | Travel between stops |
| On-duty not driving | Work without driving | Inspection, fueling, loading, or paperwork |
Read the statuses in sequence to see how one task changes into another.
From inspection to delivery
At a glance · Follow the sequence
01
Inspect
On-duty not driving
02
Drive
Driving
03
Unload
On-duty not driving
04
Released
Off duty
The status follows the activity, including work while parked.
Waiting at a dock is not automatically off-duty. Check whether the driver still has work or attendance responsibilities. A parked truck does not prove the driver is off-duty.
Work remains work during a stop
Pause and apply
Maya fuels and does required paperwork for thirty minutes. Is that off-duty?
Read the reasoning
No. Both tasks are on-duty not driving. The stop may satisfy the thirty-minute driving-break rule, but it remains work.
Personal conveyance and yard moves are special categories for qualifying off-duty and on-duty activity. The Advanced courses explain when to use them.