Who Must Follow These Rules?
The HOS rules apply to anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. That means:
You must comply if:
- Vehicle weighs 10,001+ lbs (GVWR or GVW)
- Vehicle is designed to transport 9-15 passengers (including driver) for compensation
- Vehicle transports 16+ passengers (with or without compensation)
- Vehicle transports hazardous materials requiring placards
Exemptions exist for:
- Short-haul drivers (150-mile radius, CDL holders)
- Non-CDL short-haul (150-mile radius)
- Agricultural operations (during planting/harvest)
- Utility service vehicles (during emergencies)
- Drivers of towaway/driveway operations
The 4 Core HOS Rules
Everything else is detail. If you understand these four rules, you understand HOS.
11-Hour Driving Limit
You can drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
What this means:
- The clock starts when you first go on duty (not when you start driving)
- Only actual wheel time counts against this limit
- Loading, fueling, inspections — those don't eat driving time (but they eat your 14-hour window)
- Once you hit 11 hours of driving, you must stop driving until you take a full 10-hour break
14-Hour Window
You cannot drive after the 14th hour since coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off.
What this means:
- This is a window, not a cumulative limit — it runs continuously once it starts
- Off-duty time during the day does NOT pause the 14-hour clock
- Example: Start at 6 AM, your driving window closes at 8 PM — period. Even if you only drove 4 hours.
- You can still do non-driving on-duty work after the window closes
30-Minute Break
You must take a 30-minute break before driving past the 8th hour of cumulative driving.
What this means:
- After 8 hours of driving (not on-duty, driving), you need a 30-minute break
- The break can be off-duty OR on-duty not driving (like sitting at a dock)
- It must be 30 consecutive minutes — two 15-minute breaks don't count
- After the break, your 8-hour driving clock resets
60/70-Hour Limit
You cannot drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours on duty in 8 days.
What this means:
- Most trucking operations use the 70-hour/8-day limit
- This is all on-duty time — driving plus non-driving work
- The 7/8-day period is a rolling window, not a calendar week
- A 34-hour restart can reset this limit (see below)
The 34-hour restart:
- Take 34 consecutive hours off duty to reset your 60/70-hour clock to zero
- No more restrictions on when the 34 hours must include (the 2 a.m. rule was removed)
- This is optional — some drivers find it more efficient to manage the rolling window
Sleeper Berth Rules
The sleeper berth provision lets you split your required 10-hour off-duty period into two periods. This is where HOS gets complicated.
The Split Sleeper Option
Instead of taking 10 consecutive hours off, you can split your off-duty time into two periods:
Why Use It?
- Drive during your most productive hours (early morning, late evening)
- Avoid peak traffic and congestion
- Wait out bad weather without losing your entire day
- Accommodate shippers with difficult appointment windows
- Get better rest by sleeping when you're actually tired
ELD Requirements
Since December 2019, most CMV drivers must use an Electronic Logging Device. Paper logs are largely gone.
What an ELD Must Do
- Automatically record engine hours, vehicle miles, and location
- Record date, time, and location for each duty status change
- Be on the FMCSA's registered ELD list
- Allow driver edits (with annotations explaining changes)
- Support data transfer to inspectors (Bluetooth, USB, email, or display)
- Record unassigned driving time and require it to be claimed
Who's Exempt from ELD
- Drivers who keep RODS (records of duty status) no more than 8 days in any 30-day period
- Drivers of vehicles manufactured before model year 2000
- Driveaway-towaway drivers (the vehicle IS the commodity)
- Drivers operating under short-haul exemptions
Roadside Inspection
- You must present your ELD records for the current 24-hour period plus the previous 7 consecutive days
- If your ELD malfunctions, you have 8 days to get it fixed (use paper logs in the meantime)
- Officers can identify edits, unassigned driving time, and discrepancies
- Refusing to show records is the same as not having them — automatic violation
ELD Costs
Some providers include fleet management features (GPS tracking, vehicle diagnostics, IFTA reporting) in their monthly fee.
What Violations Cost You
HOS violations aren't just fines. They cascade into your CSA scores, insurance rates, and ability to do business.
| Violation | Severity | Fine Range | CSA Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving beyond 11-hour limit | High | $1,100-$16,000 | 7 |
| Driving beyond 14-hour window | High | $1,100-$16,000 | 7 |
| No 30-minute break taken | Medium | $1,100-$16,000 | 5 |
| Exceeding 60/70-hour limit | High | $1,100-$16,000 | 7 |
| No ELD / ELD not functioning | High | $1,000-$16,000 | 5 |
| False log entry | Critical | $1,100-$16,000 | 7 |
| Operating while out of service | Critical | $2,750-$27,500 | 10 |
| No record of duty status | High | $1,100-$16,000 | 5 |
The Real Cost of One Violation
8 HOS Mistakes We See Constantly
Confusing the 14-hour window with driving time
The 14-hour window runs from the moment you go on duty. It doesn't pause for breaks, fueling, or loading. Drivers who think "I've only driven 8 hours" forget they've been on-duty for 13.5 hours.
"Just 15 more minutes"
Driving 15 minutes past your 11-hour limit is the same violation as driving 3 hours past it. The fine is the same. The CSA points are the same. Park the truck.
Not claiming unassigned driving time
Your ELD records when the truck moves without a logged-in driver. If you don't claim it (or explain it), inspectors will flag it. This looks like you're hiding driving time — which is a falsification issue.
Editing logs incorrectly
ELD edits are legal and expected. But every edit needs an annotation explaining why. "Fixed status" isn't enough. "Changed from driving to on-duty not driving — was in yard moving truck for maintenance" — that's proper.
Relying on the ELD to be right
ELDs can glitch, lose GPS, or miscategorize your duty status. Review your logs daily. If your ELD shows you driving when you were at a dock, fix it before an inspector sees it.
Misusing personal conveyance
Personal conveyance (off-duty driving) is for personal use — hotel to restaurant, to get laundry done. It's NOT for driving to the next shipper, repositioning for a load, or "just getting to a better parking spot 50 miles away."
Forgetting about yard moves
Moving your truck within a facility (yard move) still counts as on-duty time. It doesn't count as driving time against your 11-hour limit, but it does count against your 14-hour window and 60/70-hour total.
Not keeping backup paper logs
If your ELD fails, you have 8 days to fix it — but you must keep paper logs during that time. Keep blank RODS in the truck. An ELD failure without paper backup is a double violation.
Short-Haul Exemption
If you operate within a limited radius and return to your work reporting location daily, you may qualify for the short-haul exemption.
CDL Short-Haul (150-Mile)
- Operate within 150 air-mile radius of work reporting location
- Return to work reporting location within 14 hours
- Do not exceed 11 hours driving time
- Have at least 10 consecutive hours off between shifts
- Benefit: No ELD required, no RODS required — just time records
Non-CDL Short-Haul (150-Mile)
- Same radius and return requirements
- Vehicle weighs 10,001-26,000 lbs (no CDL required)
- 14-hour on-duty window
- Benefit: No ELD, no RODS — simplest compliance path
6 Practices That Keep You Compliant
Plan your day backward
Start with your delivery appointment and work backward: driving time, break time, fueling, pre-trip. If the math doesn't work within your available hours, contact your dispatcher before you run out of clock.
Review your logs daily
Spend 5 minutes at the end of each day checking your ELD entries. Fix errors while your memory is fresh. Certify your logs on time. This is your best defense at an inspection.
Know your clock at all times
Every time you make a decision (take this load? stop for fuel now?), check your available hours first. Your ELD should show remaining time on the main screen. If it doesn't, switch ELD providers.
Plan your 30-minute break
Don't let it sneak up on you. Schedule your break around hour 6-7 of driving so you have a buffer. Combine it with fueling or a meal. Build it into your route plan.
Protect your 10-hour reset
10 hours means 10 hours. Don't do paperwork, don't answer dispatch calls, don't move the truck. If you go on-duty for even 5 minutes, your 10-hour clock restarts. Be disciplined about rest.
Document detention time
When shippers/receivers hold you, log it properly as on-duty not driving. This protects you legally, supports detention pay claims, and explains your time usage to anyone reviewing your logs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use personal conveyance to drive to a truck stop?
Yes — if it's a reasonable distance and you're not under dispatch. Personal conveyance is for personal movement, not business movement. Driving 5 miles to a truck stop for dinner? Fine. Driving 50 miles closer to your next pickup? That's business driving and must be logged as such.
What happens if my ELD breaks mid-trip?
You must reconstruct your logs on paper for the current day and continue using paper logs until the ELD is repaired. You have 8 calendar days to get the ELD fixed or replaced. Notify your carrier immediately. Keep your paper logs neat — inspectors will scrutinize them more closely.
Can a shipper force me to violate HOS?
No. Under 49 CFR 392.3, it's illegal for anyone to require or permit a driver to operate a CMV in violation of HOS rules. If a shipper's detention is eating your clock, document it and communicate with your dispatcher. Never sacrifice safety for a load. If you're coerced, report it to FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database.
Does the 34-hour restart have any special requirements?
Not anymore. The requirement that a restart include two periods between 1-5 a.m. was suspended in 2014 and never reinstated. A 34-hour restart just needs to be 34 consecutive hours off duty (or in the sleeper berth). You can take it any time.
What's the difference between on-duty not driving and off-duty?
On-duty not driving includes: waiting at a dock, pre/post-trip inspections, fueling, loading/unloading, paperwork, truck maintenance, and any work for a motor carrier. Off-duty is truly personal time — sleeping, eating, personal errands. The distinction matters because on-duty not driving counts against your 60/70-hour limit and your 14-hour window.
Do HOS rules apply when I'm in Canada or Mexico?
When operating in the US, US rules apply. When operating in Canada, Canadian HOS rules apply (they're similar but have differences, like a 13-hour driving limit). Mexico has its own regulations. When crossing borders, you generally follow the rules of the country you're operating in.
Keep Your Record Clean
Clean HOS compliance = lower CSA scores = better insurance rates. If you're looking for trucking insurance that rewards good compliance, we'll give you straight numbers based on your actual record.