Hours of Service Rules: What Every Driver Should Know

Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are among the most important federal rules governing commercial truck drivers. These regulations determine how long drivers can operate before taking mandatory rest breaks, directly impacting road safety for everyone.

What Are Hours of Service Regulations?

Hours of Service regulations are federal rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that limit the number of hours a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver can drive and work. These rules are designed to prevent fatigue-related accidents by ensuring drivers get adequate rest.

Driver fatigue is a leading cause of commercial vehicle accidents. According to FMCSA studies, drivers who exceed HOS limits are significantly more likely to be involved in crashes. The regulations apply to drivers of vehicles that:

• Weigh 10,001 pounds or more
• Are designed to transport 16 or more passengers
• Transport hazardous materials requiring placards

The Key HOS Rules for Property-Carrying Drivers

For drivers transporting property (freight, goods, cargo), the following limits apply:

The 11-Hour Driving Limit

A driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. This is the core driving limit that most affects daily operations. Once a driver has driven for 11 hours, they must take a full 10-hour break before driving again.

The 14-Hour Duty Window

Perhaps the most misunderstood rule: once a driver comes on duty (even if not driving), they have a 14-hour window during which driving is permitted. After 14 hours, driving must stop regardless of how much of that time was spent actually driving.

Example: If a driver starts their day at 6:00 AM, they cannot drive after 8:00 PM, even if they only drove 6 of those 14 hours.

The 34-Hour Restart

Drivers can "restart" their 60/70-hour clock by taking 34 consecutive hours off duty. This restart provision allows drivers to begin a new workweek with a fresh slate of available hours.

Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) Mandate

Since December 2017, most commercial drivers are required to use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to record their hours of service automatically. This replaced the traditional paper logbooks that were easier to falsify.

ELDs connect to the vehicle's engine and automatically record:

• Driving time
• Location data
• Engine hours
• Vehicle miles

Exceptions to HOS Rules

The FMCSA provides several exceptions for specific situations:

• Short-Haul Exception: Drivers operating within 150 air-miles who return to their terminal within 14 hours
• Adverse Driving Conditions: Extends driving time by 2 hours for unexpected weather or road conditions
• Sleeper Berth Provision: Allows drivers to split their required 10-hour break

How HOS Compliance Affects Safety Records

When you search a carrier on Trucking Record, their HOS compliance is reflected in several metrics:

• Driver Out-of-Service Rate: High rates often indicate HOS violations
• Safety Rating: Persistent HOS violations contribute to conditional or unsatisfactory ratings
• Crash History: Fatigue-related crashes often correlate with HOS non-compliance

Check Carrier HOS Compliance →