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Flexible Sleeper Berth Pilot Program: What 6/4 and 5/5 Mean
FMCSA is testing 6/4 and 5/5 rest splits for truck drivers. See how the pilot differs from current rules, its 2027 plans, and the sleep-safety limits.
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Staff research and writing, reviewed against the sources listed at the foot of every article.
The Flexible Sleeper Berth Pilot Program is a U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study testing whether commercial truck drivers can split their required rest more flexibly without reducing safety. Its new options include 6/4 and 5/5 splits: two qualifying rest periods totaling at least 10 hours, with at least five consecutive hours in the sleeper berth.
As of November 4, 2026, this is not a rule change available to every driver. FMCSA has completed a small pre-test and plans a larger study in 2027. The alternative splits are for approved participants operating under the pilot’s exemption—not permission to change your ordinary logbook practices. FMCSA’s program update and October 2026 study notice describe that distinction.
How the pilot differs from current sleeper-berth rules
For property-carrying drivers, the current federal sleeper-berth provision requires one period of at least seven consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus another qualifying period of at least two consecutive hours, totaling at least 10 hours. The second period can be off duty, in the sleeper berth, or a combination. Common pairings are 7/3 and 8/2; intermediate pairings can also qualify. When properly paired, neither rest period counts against the 14-hour driving window. FMCSA’s current HOS summary and October study notice
The pilot lowers the longer sleeper-berth minimum to five hours while retaining the 10-hour total:
| Arrangement | Example of the two rest periods | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 8/2 | 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth + 2 consecutive hours off duty | Available under current rules |
| 7/3 | 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth + 3 consecutive hours off duty | Available under current rules |
| 6/4 | 6 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth + 4 consecutive hours off duty | Additional pilot option |
| 5/5 | 5 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth + 5 consecutive hours off duty | Additional pilot option |
The pilot also permits splits between 5/5 and 6/4. These are rest-period examples, not complete driving or logging schedules; participants must follow the exemption and study procedures. October study notice
The practical change is a shorter minimum uninterrupted sleeper-berth block—not less total required rest. A 5/5 split does not mean five hours of sleep is enough for the day.
What happens next, and how to express interest
The sleeper-berth pre-test ran from April 1 through June 11, 2026, with nine drivers from three carriers. Each driver participated for six weeks. FMCSA says this phase tested procedures, data collection and participation requirements.
For 2027, the agency expects 256 drivers in the sleeper-berth pilot, participating for about four months and receiving up to $1,600 for completing all study tasks. Drivers and carriers can send their contact information to pilots@dot.gov for updates and participation information. The earlier call for nine sleeper-berth pre-test drivers is not the current recruitment stage. FMCSA’s program update
Participation involves screening and carrier cooperation. The October notice describes proposed requirements including a valid CDL, a valid medical certificate, regular sleeper-berth use and compliance with study procedures. It also describes carrier and driver safety-history criteria. Expressing interest does not itself authorize use of the new splits. October study notice
More flexible rest is not automatically better sleep
Ten hours recorded as rest is not necessarily ten hours asleep. Time spent settling down, eating or awake during the break reduces the actual sleep obtained. See how naps count toward total sleep for that distinction.
The larger study is intended to measure—not assume—the safety effect. Researchers plan to compare the same drivers under current rules and pilot exemptions, using attention tests, sleepiness ratings, wrist actigraphy, duty records and telematics. Because drivers volunteer, the findings may not apply equally to every driver or schedule. October study notice
For anyone considering participation:
- Protect actual sleep in both blocks. Scheduling flexibility only helps recovery if the available rest windows allow you to sleep.
- Leave time between waking and driving. Sleep inertia can temporarily slow reactions and thinking after either a nap or a longer sleep. NIOSH advises allowing it to dissipate before critical tasks; there is no universal wake-up interval that guarantees readiness. NIOSH sleep-inertia guidance
- Do not treat remaining driving hours as proof of alertness. FMCSA advises pulling over in a safe place to rest if you become drowsy while driving. FMCSA driver-fatigue guidance
This is separate from the Split Duty Period pilot
The Split Duty Period Pilot Program tests pausing the 14-hour driving window for a qualifying break of 30 minutes to three hours. Its qualifying time can include off-duty or sleeper-berth time, or on-duty non-driving time at a pickup or delivery location. It does not introduce the 6/4 and 5/5 rest splits. FMCSA’s explanation of both pilots
That distinction matters for sleep: a break spent waiting on duty is not necessarily an opportunity to sleep. The sleeper-berth pilot asks whether a different distribution of rest can preserve safety; the duty-period pilot asks whether a pause in the driving window can do so.