What You Need to Know About Hours of Service (HOS)

Hours of Service (HOS) requirements are a crucial component of Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) scores. The following information is important for fleets and drivers to keep top of mind when it comes to adhering to HOS regulations and avoiding non-compliance penalties.

What are DOT Hours of Service?

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hours of Service (HOS) are the maximum allowable working hours for commercial drivers within a given period of time. Regulations around HOS define how much rest a driver must have between shifts, as well as when breaks and cycles occur. Limits pertaining to HOS differ for property and passenger-carrying drivers.

Who establishes Hours of Service regulations?

HOS regulations are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and are designed to reduce driver fatigue by limiting the number of consecutive hours they can drive and enforcing mandatory rest periods. HOS regulations are detailed on the FMCSA website and must be followed by commercial vehicle drivers throughout North America.

How many hours can a truck driver work per day? 

This is a summary of the Federal HOS regulations set by the FMCSA for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) transporting property or goods: 

• 11-hour driving rule: A driver can only drive up to 11 hours before he or she is required to take 10 consecutive hours off.
• 14-hour driving limit: A driver cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• Rest breaks: Requires a driver to take a minimum 30-minute rest break every eight hours. However, this does not apply to drivers using either of the short-haul exceptions in 395.1(e).
• 60/70-hour limit:
• Drivers cannot drive more than 60 hours in any 7-day period. If a driver does 60 hours of driving in a 7-day period, it must be followed by at least 8 hours of off duty time.
• Drivers cannot drive more than 70 hours in any 8-day period. If a driver does 70 hours of driving in a 8-day period it must be followed by at least 8 hours of off duty time.
• A driver may restart a 7/8-day consecutive period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. 

Do HOS rules change if a commercial vehicle is transporting passengers?

This is a summary of the Federal HOS regulations set by the FMCSA for CMVs carrying passengers: 

• 10-hour limit: Drivers with passengers cannot drive for longer than 10 hours. 
• 15-hour limit: Drivers with passengers cannot drive after being on duty for longer than 15 consecutive hours. 
• 60/70-hour limit:
• Drivers cannot drive more than 60 hours in any 7-day period.
• Drivers cannot drive more than 70 hours in any 8-day period. 

There are several exceptions to HOS compliance as well as some emergency relief updates to existing exceptions that were implemented during COVID-19. It’s important to stay updated on the latest information which is outlined on the FMCSA website.

Download our fleet vehicle compliance management guide to learn more about fleet compliance management as well as common mandates and requirements.

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