There are Express internal guidelines (they are printed, you have access to them), that actually contradict some of what has been discussed here.
Going off of those guidelines, you (Courier) are supposed to start your break after your last scan, then come off of break prior to your next scan. The memo gives (if memory serves correctly) a time period of about 1 minute for each. So.... Do your last scan, decide you're going on break, enter the break in p-pad, then drive to your break location. You MUST stay in your service area, you cannot exceed 5 miles from the location of your last scan (exceptions are made...), and time spent driving from the end of your last delivery till you get back 'on trace' is all break time....
Now... I didn't do this. If I was still in, I wouldn't do it either - even if Fred himself begged with sprinkles on top....
This memo should be available to you - it is MEANT for wage employees to see - since the intent is to get the employee OFF THE CLOCK while they drive to and back from their break location. It is meant to save Express money and get maximum productivity out of you, while appearing to meet DOT requirements (they can show a 30 or 60 minute break).
Now, I always made it my rule of thumb that when I was in the driver's seat of the truck - I was getting paid. I only hit the break code once I arrived at my break location, the vehicle was shut down and was completely secure (cargo door closed, cab doors locked with windows locked). THEN, the break got coded. I'd send a message a few minutes prior to dispatch notifying them of my intention to take a break - so they had the opportunity to send a message telling me NOT TO, in case they had something needing doing.
I knew of a LOT of long time Couriers that wouldn't actually code in a break when they took it - they had a CSA make a 'time card correction' when they got back to the station (Oh, put in 60 minutes between this time and that). They all stated that they did this, so they could send and receive messages on the p-pad (so they didn't get hit with a PU with a one hour window when they are on break). Many of them would actually do pickups that were on the 'edges' of their route area (then scan them in with a 5-7 minute interval), just so they could boost their SPH numbers and not be out of contact with dispatch when they did spend 30 minutes (of a 60 minute 'break'), sitting on their butt somewhere doing something.
THIS WAS AND IS WRONG!!!
When you are on break, you don't give a DAMN about what dispatch may send you - there is a reason the p-pad blanks out and why you shouldn't let dispatch have your cell number. When you are on break - Express doesn't exist. By your notifying dispatch you are about to go on break, you are giving them a proverbial 'heads up' that you are going to be out of contact for awhile - and if anything comes up, THEY have to deal with it WITHOUT you.
If a PU comes in a minute after you go on break (your p-pad is blanked out) with a one hour window, guess what - it will burn. NOT YOUR FAULT. It is your dispatcher's responsibility to either get the customer to agree to expand the window, or get another Courier to hustle butt to that location to get the PU while you are on break, UNINTERRUPTED.
Express will do whatever it can to get you onto unpaid time (while you are 'available' to rapidly come back onto the clock). You have NO OBLIGATION to comply with this. You can't respond to p-pad messages (it is blanked out), and you shouldn't answer your cell if you have given your number to dispatch or management. You are a 'non-exempt' employee - so you aren't required to be available for phone calls when you are on unpaid time.
If you are to code an unpaid break, you have NO OBLIGATION to stay in contact with dispatch or management, shouldn't be operating your vehicle and are not responsible for anything which may occur during break time which you would normally respond to if you weren't on break.
In short, if you are on 'your time', make damn sure dispatch knows about it BEFORE you enter it into your p-pad (give them a couple of minutes to respond with acknowledgement), then enter the break, holster the p-pad and forget about Express for awhile.