Trucking: codriver log, cumulative hours, consecutive hours

Question
my question is if i am a codriver and needed to drive when the other driver reaches his/her 11th hour of driving can i then drive and if so how would i log on my log when i am in the passenger seat?

Answer
Sam...
Thanks for the question, unfortunately you may not like the answer.  FMCSA regulations Part 395 provides the rules for Hours of Service and logbook rules.  The basis for my answer assumes you're an interstate property carrier and the truck is not equipped with a US DOT approved sleeper berth.  Excerpts from Part 395, along with some personal comments are presented below and the entire Part 395 can be found at:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguidedetail...
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The short answer to your question is NO, you are not eligible to drive unless you have been logged "Off Duty" or "Sleeper Berth" time for 10 hours.  The maximum hours that can be driven each day is 11 hours.  The maximum "On Duty" time is 14 consecutive hours after 10 consecutive hours either "Off Duty" or "Sleeper Berth".

In your situation, riding along in the passenger's seat does not qualify for either "Off Duty" or "Sleeper Berth" time.  It should be logged as "On Duty, Not Driving".

Team driving affords no advantage to two drivers, as related to number hours allowed for driving, unless the truck is equipped with a US DOT approved sleeper.

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§395.3 Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles.
Subject to the exceptions and exemptions in §395.1:

(a) No motor carrier shall permit or require any driver used by it to drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, nor shall any such driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle:

(1) More than 11 cumulative hours following 10 consecutive hours off-duty; or

(2) For any period after the end of the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty, except when a property-carrying driver complies with the provisions of §395.1(o) or §395.1(e)(2).

No motor carrier shall permit or require a driver of a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle to drive, nor shall any driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, regardless of the number of motor carriers using the driver’s services, for any period after —
(1) Having been on duty 60 hours in any period of 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week; or

(2) Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.

(1) Any period of 7 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours; or

(2) Any period of 8 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours.
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Every driver who operates a commercial motor vehicle shall record his/her duty status by using an automatic on-board recording device that meets the requirements of §395.15 of this part.
The duty status shall be recorded as follows:

(1) “Off duty” or “OFF.” (NOTE:  OFF means you're are relieved of all duties for the carrier and you are not required to be in a state of readiness to drive or perform any other duties.  You can not log "Off Duty" while in the passenger's seat and the co-driver is driving.)

(2) “Sleeper berth” or “SB” (only if a sleeper berth used).
Sleeper berth means a berth conforming to the requirements of §393.76

(3) “Driving” or “D.”
Driving time means all time spent at the driving controls of a commercial motor vehicle in operation.

(4) “On-duty not driving” or “ON.”
On duty time means all time from the time a driver begins to work or is required to be in readiness to work until the time the driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work.
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I hope this helps some, even though you would have preferred a different answer.  Thanks again for the question.
...Don
http://www.stopillegaltrucking.com/