Pitman schedule
The Pitman schedule is a 12-hour schedule for 24/7 work with four crews: two always on days and two always on nights. Each person works 2, has 2 off, works 3, has 2 off, works 2 and has 3 off over 14 days. It averages 42 hours a week.
Written by Maren Vellory, Operations Manager · Updated October 19, 2026
The numbers
Worked out from the cycle. Weekends are counted from a Monday start.
- Shift length
- 12 hours
- Crews
- 4
- Cycle
- 14 days
- Average hours a week
- 42 hours
- Longest run of work
- 3 days
- Longest break
- 3 days
- Weekends fully off
- 1 in 2
- Cover
- 24/7
- People for 1 on each shift
- 4
Pitman schedule calendar
The next 28 days from Monday, October 19, 2026. Change the dates below to see your own 8 weeks.
You need 4 people: 4 crews of 1, before cover for time off and sickness.
- DDay 07:00–19:00
- NNight 19:00–07:00
- OOff
| Crew |
Mo 19 |
Tu 20 |
We 21 |
Th 22 |
Fr 23 |
Sa 24 |
Su 25 |
Mo 26 |
Tu 27 |
We 28 |
Th 29 |
Fr 30 |
Sa 31 |
Su 1 |
Mo 2 |
Tu 3 |
We 4 |
Th 5 |
Fr 6 |
Sa 7 |
Su 8 |
Mo 9 |
Tu 10 |
We 11 |
Th 12 |
Fr 13 |
Sa 14 |
Su 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew 1 | D | D | O | O | D | D | D | O | O | D | D | O | O | O | D | D | O | O | D | D | D | O | O | D | D | O | O | O |
| Crew 2 | O | O | D | D | O | O | O | D | D | O | O | D | D | D | O | O | D | D | O | O | O | D | D | O | O | D | D | D |
| Crew 3 | N | N | O | O | N | N | N | O | O | N | N | O | O | O | N | N | O | O | N | N | N | O | O | N | N | O | O | O |
| Crew 4 | O | O | N | N | O | O | O | N | N | O | O | N | N | N | O | O | N | N | O | O | O | N | N | O | O | N | N | N |
Hours per week and per 2-week pay period
The next 8 weeks for each crew, from the start date. Your pay week may start on another day; then the hours split differently.
| Crew | Weeks 1–2 | Weeks 3–4 | Weeks 5–6 | Weeks 7–8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew 1 |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 2 |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 3 |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (60 + 24)
20 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 4 |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
84 h (24 + 60)
20 h over 40 a week |
Over 40 hours in a week is overtime under the US federal rule (time and a half). Your state, province or contract can add more, for example daily overtime.
Download the Pitman schedule
The next 12 months for each crew, from the start date and shift times above. The CSV opens in Excel and Google Sheets. The calendar file adds each shift to Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar.
- Crew 1 CSV for Excel Calendar file
- Crew 2 CSV for Excel Calendar file
- Crew 3 CSV for Excel Calendar file
- Crew 4 CSV for Excel Calendar file
How the Pitman schedule works
- Make four crews. Crews 1 and 2 work days. Crews 3 and 4 work nights.
- Each shift is 12 hours.
- Each crew follows 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off over 14 days. The work runs are 2, 3 and 2 days, so it is also written 2-3-2.
- Crew 2 starts a week after crew 1, so it works on the days crew 1 is off. Crews 3 and 4 do the same on nights.
- The cycle repeats every 14 days. Some teams also swap days and nights every cycle; that is the Panama version.
One cycle for crew 1, day by day: DDOODDDOODDOOO (D day, N night, O off).
Pros
- Night people stay on nights, so their sleep stays regular.
- Every other weekend off.
- No more than 3 shifts in a row.
Cons
- The night crews work every night shift, which some people cannot do for long.
- Work days move every week.
- Long and short weeks take turns.
Who uses it
Police departments, emergency dispatch, hospitals, security and plants.
One sequence, three names
The 2-2-3, Panama and Pitman schedules all use the same 14 days: 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. Most sources treat 2-2-3 and Panama as one pattern in which crews change between days and nights. Most say Pitman crews stay on days or on nights.
Sources use the names loosely, so ask which version a team means. The hours are the same in each: 42 a week on average.
See also: 2-2-3 schedule and Panama schedule.
Questions
Is the Pitman schedule the same as 2-2-3?
It uses the same 14-day sequence. Pitman usually keeps crews on days or nights; 2-2-3 and Panama usually rotate them. Sources use the names loosely.
What does 2-3-2 mean?
The runs of work: 2 days on, then 3, then 2, with 2 or 3 days off between them. It is the 2-2-3 sequence read from another day.
How many hours a week is the Pitman schedule?
42 hours on average: 84 hours every two weeks.
Can the Pitman schedule work with days only?
Yes. Two crews on the day half of the pattern cover 12-hour days, 7 days a week.
Put real people on these shifts.
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