Hours of Service & Electronic Logging Devices
Fatigue is one of the biggest causes of serious truck crashes. Federal hours-of-service (HOS) rules limit how long commercial drivers can drive and work, and require rest between shifts. Most drivers record their time on an electronic logging device (ELD).
- Truck drivers
- Bus drivers
The main rules for property-carrying drivers
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| 11-hour driving limit | You may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. |
| 14-hour window | You may not drive after the 14th hour since you came on duty. Breaks don’t extend the window (except the sleeper split below). |
| 30-minute break | After 8 hours of driving, take a break of at least 30 minutes. Any non-driving time (off duty, sleeper or on duty not driving) counts. |
| 60/70-hour limit | No driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on your company’s schedule. |
| 34-hour restart | Taking 34 or more hours off in a row resets the 60/70-hour clock. |
“On duty” includes driving plus loading, unloading, inspections, fueling, waiting at a shipper and any other work.
Passenger-carrying drivers
Bus and motorcoach drivers have different limits: up to 10 hours of driving after 8 consecutive hours off, and no driving after 15 hours on duty. See DOT Rules.
Sleeper berth splits
Drivers with a sleeper berth can split the required 10 hours off into two periods: at least 7 hours in the sleeper, plus at least 2 hours off duty or in the sleeper (totaling at least 10). When paired this way, neither period counts against the 14-hour window.
Exceptions you should know
- Short-haul: drivers who stay within 150 air miles of their normal work location and finish within 14 hours don’t need logs or the 30-minute break, but the employer must keep time records. Many construction and local delivery drivers use this.
- Adverse driving conditions: unexpected snow, fog or traffic from a crash can extend driving time and the window by up to 2 hours.
- Personal conveyance: limited off-duty use of the truck for personal reasons, like driving to a safe rest area. It can’t be used to move a load forward for the business.
- Yard moves: moving a truck within a yard or terminal is on duty, not driving, when the ELD is set correctly.
ELDs
- Most drivers who must keep logs must use a registered ELD connected to the engine.
- Exceptions include drivers who keep logs 8 days or fewer in a 30-day period, and trucks with engines older than model year 2000.
- Carry the ELD instruction sheet, a malfunction instruction sheet and blank paper logs for 8 days.
- If the ELD malfunctions, switch to paper logs, notify your carrier within 24 hours, and get it fixed within 8 days.
Know your rights
A carrier, shipper or broker may not pressure you to violate hours-of-service rules. That’s called coercion, and you can report it to FMCSA. Drivers are also protected from retaliation for refusing to drive in violation of safety rules or when too ill or tired to drive safely. See Driver Fatigue and Whistleblower Protection.
The rules are the maximum, not a target. If you’re drowsy with hours left on your clock, the safe and legal move is to stop and rest.
Standards & references
- FMCSA: Hours of service
- 49 CFR Part 395: Hours of service of drivers
- FMCSA: ELD rule and registered devices
Last updated: