Time in transit deadheading back to your terminal at the end of your tour of duty is NOT time on duty for Federal hours of service requirements, but cannot be considered as rest. True or False?

Time in transit deadheading back to your terminal at the end of your tour of duty is NOT time on duty for Federal hours of service requirements, but cannot be considered as rest. True or False?

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not applicable
• D. Not sure

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how Federal hours of service treat time that isn’t spent performing work versus time you’re actually resting. When you finish your tour and are deadheading back to the terminal, you’re not doing railroad duties on that trip, so it isn’t counted as on-duty time. However, you aren’t fully off the clock in the sense of being free from obligation to report for duty—you're in transit under the railroad’s direction and could be recalled. Because of that, the time isn’t considered rest either. It’s a transition period: not active work, but not free and fully rested either. That’s why the statement is true.

The main idea here is how Federal hours of service treat time that isn’t spent performing work versus time you’re actually resting. When you finish your tour and are deadheading back to the terminal, you’re not doing railroad duties on that trip, so it isn’t counted as on-duty time. However, you aren’t fully off the clock in the sense of being free from obligation to report for duty—you're in transit under the railroad’s direction and could be recalled. Because of that, the time isn’t considered rest either. It’s a transition period: not active work, but not free and fully rested either. That’s why the statement is true.