The 'Pro-Trucker Package' Is Testing 5/5 and 6/4 Sleeper Splits — and FMCSA Wants Drivers to Sign Up
A pair of FMCSA pilot programs could finally let drivers split the 10-hour break the way the job actually works. Here's what's in the package and who qualifies.
For years, drivers have argued that the Hours-of-Service rules don't match the reality of the road — that being forced to burn a rigid 10-hour break, regardless of traffic, weather, or how you actually feel, can make the job less safe, not more. Regulators are finally running the experiment.
As part of what the U.S. DOT is calling the "Pro-Trucker Package" — a slate of driver-focused actions tied to Executive Order 14286 — the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is standing up two hours-of-service pilot programs.
What's being tested
- Flexible Sleeper Berth (FSB): Today, drivers who use the split-sleeper option are limited to 8/2 and 7/3 splits. The pilot expands that to include 6/4 and 5/5 splits — far more flexibility to rest when it makes sense and drive when the road is clear.
- Split Duty Period (SDP): A separate test of pausing the on-duty clock, giving drivers room to wait out congestion or a detention without burning their whole day.
This spring and summer, FMCSA is recruiting an initial group of about 18 drivers for limited six-week tests of the study design and data-collection tools — the groundwork before the full pilots launch.
What it means for your truck
Nothing changes your logs today — the core HOS rules remain in place while the pilots run. But this is the most serious movement on sleeper-berth flexibility in years, and the agency is explicitly asking working drivers to shape it. If you've ever wanted a say in the rule that governs your day, this is the rare moment the door is open.
Keep an eye on FMCSA notices for participation windows, and watch the comment periods — the version of these rules that sticks will be heavily influenced by the drivers who show up now.