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Hours of Service

Starter page for hours-of-service education and future recordkeeping tools.

What Are the Hours-of-Service Rules?

The Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules in 49 CFR Part 395 limit how long a commercial driver can drive and work before taking mandated rest, to keep fatigued drivers off the road. Most drivers of vehicles requiring HOS compliance must also use an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) to automatically record their Record of Duty Status (RODS), replacing paper logs, under the ELD mandate that took full effect in 2019 — with limited exceptions for short-haul drivers, drivers who use paper logs no more than 8 days in any 30-day period, and older vehicles. The limits below are the current baseline rules for property-carrying drivers; passenger-carrying drivers operate under a different set of numbers.

Property-Carrying Driver Limits

Rule Limit
11-Hour Driving Limit May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
14-Hour Window May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time doesn't extend this window.
30-Minute Break Must take a 30-minute break (off duty, sleeper berth, or other non-driving status) after 8 cumulative hours of driving time without at least a 30-minute interruption.
60/70-Hour Limit May not drive after accumulating 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days (depending on the carrier's operating schedule); the clock resets after 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
Sleeper Berth Split May split the required 10 hours off duty into two periods using the sleeper berth — one of at least 7 consecutive hours and another of at least 2 hours — provided the two periods together total at least 10 hours.

Passenger-Carrying Drivers & the ELD Mandate

Passenger-carrying drivers work under noticeably tighter limits than property-carrying drivers: a 10-hour driving limit after 8 consecutive hours off duty, and a 15-hour on-duty window rather than 14. The 60/70-hour rule applies the same way to both groups. Both property- and passenger-carrying drivers may extend their driving window by up to 2 hours under the adverse driving conditions exception, and short-haul drivers who stay within 150 air-miles of their work location and meet other conditions may qualify for HOS and ELD exceptions. Because these thresholds are set and periodically adjusted by FMCSA, always confirm the current numbers before relying on them for a compliance decision.

FMCSA Hours-of-Service Regulations (fmcsa.dot.gov)

Frequently Asked

Does every commercial driver need an ELD?
Most drivers required to keep a Record of Duty Status must use an ELD. Exceptions include drivers who use paper logs on no more than 8 days within any 30-day period, drivers of vehicles manufactured before model year 2000, and certain short-haul or driveaway-towaway operations. Check the current exception list before assuming a driver or vehicle qualifies.
What counts as "on-duty" time for the 14-hour window?
On-duty time includes driving plus any other work for a motor carrier — inspections, loading/unloading, paperwork, fueling, and time waiting to be dispatched — from the moment the driver starts work until they're relieved. Off-duty time does not pause or extend the 14-hour clock once it starts, with limited exceptions like the sleeper berth split.
Are there HOS exceptions for short-haul drivers?
Yes. Drivers who operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location and return there each day, and meet other conditions, may qualify for a short-haul exception that relaxes certain logging and break requirements. The specific conditions are set in Part 395 — verify them against current FMCSA guidance for your operation.

Related Topics

Driver Qualification Files Drug & Alcohol Testing Roadside Inspections CSA / SMS

This page is general information, not legal advice, and Hours-of-Service and ELD requirements are set by FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 395 and subject to change — confirm current limits and exceptions at fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-of-service before making compliance decisions.

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