Hours of Service

11-Hour Driving Limit

May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

11 hours

Exceptions

  • • Adverse driving conditions: +2 hours (13 hours total) per 49 CFR 395.1(b)(1)

Driver: up to $2,750 per violation. Carrier: up to $16,000 per violation.

14-Hour Driving Window

May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Cannot be extended by off-duty time (except sleeper berth).

14 hours

Exceptions

  • • Adverse driving conditions does NOT extend the 14-hour window
  • • Sleeper berth splits can pause the 14-hour clock

Driver: up to $2,750. Carrier: up to $16,000.

30-Minute Break

Must take a 30-minute break when you have driven for a period of 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption. Break can be off-duty, sleeper berth, or on-duty not driving.

30 minutes after 8 hours driving

Exceptions

  • • Short-haul drivers (150 air-mile radius) exempt from this requirement
  • • The break does NOT need to be consecutive with the start/end of driving

Driver: up to $2,750. Carrier: up to $16,000.

60/70-Hour Limit

May not drive after being on duty 60 hours in any 7 consecutive days (if carrier does not operate every day) or 70 hours in any 8 consecutive days (if carrier operates every day of the week).

60 hours in 7 days OR 70 hours in 8 days

Exceptions

  • • 34-hour restart: resets the 60/70-hour clock after 34 consecutive hours off-duty

Driver: up to $2,750. Carrier: up to $16,000.

Sleeper Berth Provisions

Drivers using a sleeper berth can split their 10-hour off-duty into two periods: one must be at least 7 hours in the sleeper, and the other at least 2 hours (either off-duty or sleeper). Neither period counts against the 14-hour window. 2025 pilot program testing flexible 6/4 split.

Split into 7/3 or 8/2 combinations

Exceptions

  • • Both periods must total at least 10 hours
  • • Neither period alone counts against the 14-hour window
  • • 2025 FMCSA pilot program testing 6/4 split flexibility

Improper sleeper berth use: same as other HOS violations.

34-Hour Restart

A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. This resets the 60/70-hour clock to zero.

34 consecutive hours off-duty

Exceptions

  • • No limits on how often the restart can be used
  • • No requirement for specific time windows (the 1am-5am requirement was suspended)

N/A (this is a provision, not a restriction).

150 Air-Mile Radius Short-Haul Exception

49 CFR 395.1(e)(1)

Drivers operating within a 150 air-mile radius of their work reporting location are exempt from ELD and RODS requirements if ALL conditions are met.

ALL conditions must be met:

  1. 1Operate within a 150 air-mile radius of normal work reporting location
  2. 2Return to work reporting location within 14 consecutive hours
  3. 3Do not drive after 14 hours on duty
  4. 4Do not drive after 11 hours of driving
  5. 5Have at least 10 consecutive hours off-duty between shifts
  6. 6Do not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days
  7. 7Carrier maintains accurate time records (start time, end time, total hours) for 6 months

Important Notes

  • • ELD is NOT required under this exception
  • • Paper RODS are NOT required under this exception
  • • Carrier must keep time records showing start/end times
  • • If ANY condition is violated, full ELD/RODS requirements apply for that day

Personal Conveyance

Movement of a CMV for personal use while off-duty. Recorded as off-duty, does not affect driving or on-duty hours.

Acceptable Uses

  • • Driving from rest stop to hotel/restaurant
  • • Driving to find safe parking after exhausting hours
  • • Personal errands near rest location
  • • Commuting between home and terminal (bobtail or unladen)

NOT Acceptable

  • • Driving to the next shipper/receiver
  • • Moving closer to next dispatch location
  • • Hauling revenue freight
  • • Repositioning vehicle for operational advantage

Rules

  • • Vehicle must be unladen or laden only with carrier property (not revenue cargo)
  • • No distance limit (but must be reasonable and truly personal)
  • • Cannot be used to extend driving time or circumvent HOS
  • • Location recorded at reduced precision (~10-mile radius) for privacy

ELD Malfunction Procedures

If your ELD stops working, you have specific steps to follow.

Procedure

  1. 1Note the malfunction on the ELD (if possible) or paper RODS
  2. 2Reconstruct RODS for the current 24-hour period and previous 7 consecutive days on graph-grid paper
  3. 3Continue using paper RODS until ELD is repaired
  4. 4Report malfunction to carrier within 24 hours
  5. 5Carrier must repair or replace ELD within 8 calendar days
  6. 6Keep documentation of the malfunction and repair

Required in Every Truck

  • • ELD user manual
  • • Instruction sheet for recording malfunctions/data transfer
  • • Supply of blank graph-grid RODS for minimum 8 days