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FMCSA Advances Split Sleeper Berth Pilot Program, Seeks 256 Driver Volunteers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is moving forward with a pilot program to test more flexible split sleeper berth requirements for commercial drivers. A Federal Register notice this week opened information collection activities to evaluate whether alternative rest period splits could maintain safety standards.

The agency is testing whether the current 10-hour off-duty requirement could be restructured from the existing 7-3 or 8-2 splits to new 5-5 or 6-4 configurations. This would be contingent on reducing the minimum sleeper berth period to five hours from seven.

The program requires up to 256 commercial drivers to participate, with compensation set at $1,600 per volunteer. The initiative follows a September 2025 Federal Register notice requesting public comment and stems from an April 2025 executive order directing the Transportation Department to pursue regulatory improvements for truck drivers' working conditions.