Hours of Service Rules Explained for Motor Carriers

What Are Hours of Service Rules?

Hours of Service (HOS) regulations under 49 CFR Part 395 set federal limits on how many hours a commercial driver can drive and be on duty in a given period. The rules exist to prevent fatigued driving, which is a leading cause of truck accidents.

This guide covers the rules for property-carrying CDL drivers in interstate commerce. Passenger-carrying drivers have different limits.

The Core HOS Limits

11-Hour Driving Limit

A driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

14-Hour On-Duty Window

A driver may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. This is an absolute window — once 14 hours have elapsed since the driver came on duty, they may not drive regardless of how many hours they've actually driven.

60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit

A driver may not drive after accumulating 60 hours on-duty in 7 consecutive days (for carriers that don't operate every day of the week) or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days (for carriers that operate every day of the week).

10-Hour Off-Duty Requirement

Before driving again, the driver must take 10 consecutive hours off duty (or a combination of sleeper berth time that meets the regulatory requirements).

The 30-Minute Break Requirement

A driver may not drive for more than 8 cumulative hours without taking at least a 30-minute break. The break can be taken as off-duty time or sleeper berth time.

The 34-Hour Restart

A driver who has reached the 60- or 70-hour limit can "restart" their 7- or 8-day calculation by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.

Short-Haul Exceptions

Drivers who operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their work reporting location may qualify for the short-haul exception, which exempts them from the 30-minute break requirement and allows use of time records instead of a log (if they return to the same location each day and work no more than 14 hours).

Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)

Most CDL drivers subject to HOS regulations must use an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) to record their hours. ELDs automatically record driving time and are tamper-resistant. Paper logs are only permitted in limited circumstances (the short-haul exception, and certain agricultural and construction exemptions).

Carriers must retain ELD records for 6 months.

Consequences of HOS Violations

• Drivers found in violation of HOS rules can be placed out of service at roadside inspections
• Carriers with patterns of HOS violations receive higher SMS scores, increasing audit risk
• Falsification of logs is a serious criminal violation

Motor Carrier Responsibilities

Motor carriers must:

• Adopt a written HOS policy
• Train drivers on HOS requirements
• Review driver logs or ELD records for violations
• Retain records for the required 6 months

At Do It Right Screening, we focus on driver qualification and drug testing compliance. For HOS compliance management, we recommend working with a specialized transportation compliance consultant alongside your DQ file management program. Contact us to discuss a comprehensive approach.