Team Driving and the Logbook – What Drivers Need to Know Before They Hit the Road
Most drivers operate solo every day, so Team Driving is not something they think about often. But situations happen. A coworker’s truck breaks down, someone needs to get home before the weekend, or a load needs to move faster than one driver’s available hours allow. Suddenly, Team Driving becomes necessary — and the first question drivers ask is simple: what happens to the logbook?
Team Driving Still Follows Standard HOS Rules
Drivers operating in a team are subject to the same Hours of Service regulations as solo drivers, with one key difference related to the 10-hour daily break. A solo driver must complete that break while the truck is parked. In Team Driving, one driver may rest while the other is operating the vehicle.
How the 10-Hour Break Works in Team Driving
To complete a valid 10-hour off-duty break in a team operation, the time must be split in a specific way.
7 Consecutive Hours in the Sleeper Berth
These 7 hours must be uninterrupted and logged under Sleeper Berth (SB) status. They form the core of the required rest period.
Up to 3 Additional Hours Off Duty
The remaining time may be logged as OFF DUTY. This includes time spent in the passenger seat while the other driver operates the vehicle. Those 3 hours can be taken either before or after the 7 consecutive Sleeper Berth hours.
The regulation covering this rule: 49 CFR 395.1(g)(1)(i)(D)
Who Should Be Logged as the Active Driver
Both drivers must be logged into the same vehicle so that location updates are recorded for each driver, including the one who is resting. However, only one driver can be the active driver at a time.
How to Identify the Active Driver
In most ELD systems, the active driver is shown by a steering wheel icon next to the driver’s name. If you see that icon next to your name, you are authorized to operate the vehicle. The second driver is logged in as a co-driver, and the Driving status is inactive for that driver until a proper switch is made. 
Switching Drivers the Right Way
Driver changes should be coordinated carefully to avoid downtime and logbook errors. The incoming driver can switch to ON DUTY and begin the Pre-Trip Inspection at the same time the outgoing driver completes the Post-Trip Inspection.
Once the outgoing driver finishes the post-trip, they should switch to OFF DUTY if riding in the passenger seat, or SLEEPER BERTH (SB) if going to rest.
Before the vehicle moves, the active driver must be changed in the ELD. If this step is skipped, all driving time will be recorded under the wrong driver — a logbook violation that is difficult to fix during a roadside inspection.
Compare the logs below
Fueling, Check-In, and Signing Documents
The active driver should be the one fueling the vehicle, especially when using a personal fuel card or a driver ID-based system. The Bill of Lading (BOL) should also be signed by the active driver responsible for that leg of the trip..
If the driver handling fueling or check-in procedures is not the active driver, that driver must switch to ON DUTY for the duration of those tasks.
Team Driving Logs – Regulations vs. Reality
The rules are straightforward, but applying them correctly on the road requires coordination and attention to detail. Proper log statuses, correct ELD setup, and clear communication between drivers are what keep a team operation compliant — and keep both drivers out of trouble at the scale house..
See below how to log two or more drivers into Geotab Drive and Samsara.