Hours of Service (HOS) Rules: What Truck Drivers Need to Know

Quick Summary

Hours of service (HOS) are federal rules set by the FMCSA that limit how long truck drivers can drive and work. Property-carrying drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours within a 14-hour on-duty window after 10 consecutive hours off duty. A 30-minute break is required after 8 hours of driving. Weekly limits cap on-duty time at 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, with a 34-hour restart option. Violations carry fines of $1,000 to $16,000 and can result in out-of-service orders.

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Hours of service (HOS) rules control how long a truck driver can drive and work before taking a break. The FMCSA created these DOT hours of service regulations to prevent fatigue-related crashes on U.S. highways. They apply to most drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce, and many intrastate-only drivers as well..

If you drive a CMV, you need to know these hours of service regulations. Breaking them can lead to fines, out-of-service orders, and damage to your CSA score. This guide covers every major HOS rule, who they apply to, the exemptions, and what happens when you violate them. At TIPS, we help motor carriers build compliance systems that account for HOS from day one, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Who Has to Follow Hours of Service Rules?

FMCSA hours of service rules apply to any driver operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. A CMV is any vehicle that meets one of these conditions:

• Weighs 10,001 lbs or more (GVWR or GCWR)

• Carries 16 or more passengers, including the driver, without pay

• Carries 9 or more passengers, including the driver, for pay

• Hauls hazardous materials that need placards

If your vehicle fits any of those, you must follow HOS rules. This includes owner-operators, company drivers, and drivers from Canada or Mexico operating in the U.S.

Intrastate drivers (those who only operate within one state) follow their state's rules instead of federal HOS. Some states adopt the federal rules exactly. Others set their own driving limits, weight thresholds, or exemptions. Check with your state's DOT if you only run intrastate. TIPS maintains a state-by-state breakdown of intrastate requirements for carriers who need to know where the rules differ.

What Are the Main HOS Rules for Property-Carrying Drivers?

The core HOS trucking rules for drivers hauling freight have not changed since the 2020 HOS Final Rule. Every rule below works together, so you need to understand all of them to stay compliant.

11-Hour Driving Limit

You can drive for up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Once you hit 11 hours of driving, you must stop and take another 10 hours off before you can drive again.

The 11-hour driving limit only counts actual driving time. Loading, unloading, fueling, and paperwork do not count toward the 11 hours. But they do count toward your 14-hour on-duty window.

14-Hour On-Duty Window

Once you start your workday, you have 14 consecutive hours to finish all your driving. After 14 hours on duty, you cannot drive again until you take 10 consecutive hours off.

This is where many drivers get confused. The 14-hour rule in trucking does not pause. Off-duty time during the day does not extend or reset it. If you come on duty at 6:00 AM, your window closes at 8:00 PM regardless of what you did in between. This is one of the most common sources of HOS violations, and it is the rule we see carriers struggle with most at TIPS.

30-Minute Break Rule

After 8 cumulative hours of driving, you must take a 30-minute break. Any period of at least 30 minutes spent off duty, in the sleeper berth, or on-duty not driving satisfies the 30-minute break rule.

Note that the 8-hour clock counts driving time only. If you drive for 4 hours, spend 2 hours loading, and then drive for 4 more hours, you have hit 8 hours of driving and need a break.

60/70-Hour Limit

You cannot drive after reaching 60 on-duty hours in 7 consecutive days, or 70 on-duty hours in 8 consecutive days. Which limit applies depends on how your carrier operates. This is a rolling calculation. The oldest day's hours drop off at the end of each new day.

34-Hour Restart

You can reset your 60 or 70-hour clock by taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. After a full 34-hour restart, your weekly clock goes back to zero. There is no limit on how often you can use the restart.

What Counts as On-Duty Time vs. Driving Time?

Understanding the difference between on-duty time and driving time matters for every HOS calculation. Driving time only counts time behind the wheel. On-duty time includes everything work-related.

On-duty time includes waiting to be dispatched, inspecting or servicing your vehicle, all driving time, loading and unloading, fueling, doing paperwork, and any other work for a motor carrier. The only things that do not count as on-duty time are off-duty periods, time in the sleeper berth, and up to 3 hours riding as a passenger (with specific sleeper berth pairing rules).

Your 11-hour driving limit and 30-minute break track driving time. Your 14-hour window and 60/70-hour limit track on-duty time. Keeping these straight is key to staying within your DOT hours of service limits.

How Does the Sleeper Berth Split Work?

The sleeper berth provision gives long-haul drivers more flexibility in managing rest. Instead of taking all 10 hours off at once, you can split it into two periods.

What Are the Current Split Options?

You can split your 10-hour off-duty period using a 7/3 or 8/2 split sleeper berth arrangement. One period must be at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth. The other period must be at least 2 hours, either in the sleeper berth or off duty. The two periods must add up to at least 10 hours total. Neither period counts against your 14-hour driving window.

For example, you could take 7 hours in the sleeper berth, drive for a while, then take 3 hours off duty to complete the split. Your 14-hour window only counts the time between the two rest periods.

What Is Changing in 2026?

The FMCSA is testing new split options through two pilot programs announced as part of the DOT's "Pro-Trucker Package." The Flexible Sleeper Berth pilot would add 6/4 and 5/5 splits as options for drivers who already use the sleeper berth provision. The Split Duty pilot would let drivers pause their clock for up to 3 hours. Both programs are in the pre-testing phase as of early 2026 and are looking for driver participants. These are not in effect yet. If the pilots show positive safety results, the FMCSA may adopt them as permanent rules.

What Is the Short-Haul Exemption?

The short-haul exemption gives local and regional drivers relief from some HOS paperwork requirements. It is one of the most commonly used HOS exemptions and also one of the most misunderstood.

Who Qualifies for the Short-Haul Exemption?

To use the short-haul exemption, a driver must operate within a 150 air-mile radius (about 172.6 road miles) of their normal work reporting location. They must start and end each shift at that same location. They must be released from duty within 14 consecutive hours. They must also take at least 10 consecutive hours off between shifts.

If you meet all four conditions, you are exempt from keeping a detailed record of duty status (RODS) and from the ELD mandate. This exemption works well for local delivery drivers, dump truck operations, roll-off dumpster companies, intermodal container haulers, and ready-mix operations.

What Records Do Short-Haul Drivers Still Need?

Even under the short-haul exemption, your carrier must keep time cards for each driver showing the time you report for duty, the time you are released, total hours on duty each day, and total hours for the previous 7 days. These records must be kept for at least 6 months. You also still must follow the 11-hour driving limit and the 60/70-hour weekly limit.

What Happens If You Exceed the Short-Haul Limits?

If you go over the 150 air-mile radius or exceed 14 hours on duty, you must start logging your hours using a RODS or ELD for that day. You also must take the 30-minute break if you have driven 8 or more hours. If you break the exemption more than 8 times in a 30-day period, you need an ELD.

What Is Personal Conveyance?

Personal conveyance (PC) lets you move your CMV for non-business reasons without it counting against your driving or on-duty hours. The FMCSA treats personal conveyance as off-duty time.

PC can only be used when the driving is not for the commercial benefit of the carrier. Valid uses include driving to a restaurant, hotel, or home after finishing a delivery and going off duty. Moving your truck to a safe parking spot after being asked to leave a customer's property also counts.

You cannot use personal conveyance to advance toward a delivery or load. You cannot use it to continue a trip or to get closer to your next stop for work purposes. If you are stopped during a DOT inspection, you should be ready to explain why you logged personal conveyance and show that it was not work-related. Make sure your ELD is set to personal conveyance mode before you move the truck.

What Other HOS Exemptions Exist?

The FMCSA has several other HOS exemptions that apply to specific situations. Knowing which ones apply to your operation can help you plan around them legally.

Adverse Driving Conditions

If you run into unexpected bad weather, road closures, or traffic that you could not have predicted when you started driving, the adverse driving conditions exception lets you extend your driving limit by up to 2 hours. That means up to 13 hours of driving within a 16-hour window. You must still follow the 30-minute break rule. The conditions must be unforeseeable. Checking the weather forecast and driving into a storm you knew about does not count.

16-Hour Short-Haul Exception

If you normally qualify for the short-haul exemption, you can extend your 14-hour window to 16 hours once every 7 consecutive days. You must have started and ended at the same location for the previous 5 workdays to use it. This does not extend the 11-hour driving limit.

Agricultural Exemption

During state-designated planting and harvesting seasons, drivers hauling agricultural commodities are exempt from HOS within a 150 air-mile radius of the source farm or field. Once you leave that 150-mile area, normal hours of service regulations apply.

Emergency Declarations

When a federal or state emergency is declared, HOS rules can be temporarily suspended for drivers directly involved in relief efforts. This applies to transporting fuel, food, water, medical supplies, and other essential goods to affected areas.

Oilfield Operations

Drivers hauling equipment to and from oil and gas well sites can log waiting time at the well site as off-duty. This time does not count against the 14-hour window. This is a big deal for drivers in oilfield operations where wait times at well sites can be unpredictable.

Do I Need an ELD to Track My Hours of Service?

Since December 2017, most CMV drivers who must keep a record of duty status (RODS) are required to use an FMCSA-registered electronic logging device (ELD). The ELD mandate requires these devices to connect to the vehicle's engine and automatically record driving time, location, engine hours, and miles driven.

ELDs make it much harder to falsify logs. They alert you when you are approaching your HOS limits. During a roadside inspection, DOT officers can review your ELD data to check for hours of service compliance.

Some drivers are exempt from the ELD mandate. Drivers using the short-haul exemption, drivers of vehicles made before model year 2000, and drivers doing drive-away/tow-away operations do not need an ELD. But even exempt drivers must still follow HOS rules and keep accurate records by other means (paper logs or time cards).

ELD compliance is part of what FMCSA auditors check during your new entrant safety audit. If your drivers are required to use ELDs and don't have them, that's an automatic issue.

What Are the Penalties for HOS Violations?

HOS violations carry real financial and career consequences. Here is what can happen if you break the hours of service rules.

Out-of-Service Orders

If a DOT officer finds you in violation during a roadside inspection, they can place you out of service on the spot. That means your truck sits wherever it is until you have enough off-duty time to be back in compliance. Depending on the violation, that could be 10 hours or a full 34-hour restart.

Fines

The FMCSA can levy civil penalties of $1,000 to $16,000 per HOS violation depending on how serious it is. State and local enforcement can also assess their own fines. If the violation involves hazardous materials, fines can go over $75,000.m

CSA Score Impact

Every HOS violation goes on your CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) record. High CSA scores trigger FMCSA audits and interventions. They also increase insurance rates and can make it harder to find work. Carriers with high scores may face safety rating downgrades. If you’re not sure how to check your CSA scores, watch this video we made showing you how.

Falsifying Logs

Falsifying your record of duty status is one of the most common and most serious HOS violations. Over 75% of falsification violations result in an out-of-service order. DOT inspectors compare your logs against fuel receipts, toll records, GPS data, and reasonable driving distances. If the numbers don't add up, you will get caught.

Carriers that allow or encourage drivers to falsify records can face federal criminal penalties, large fines, and operational shutdowns.

How Can I Avoid Common HOS Mistakes?

Most HOS violations come from a few repeated mistakes. Here is how to stay out of trouble.

1. Plan your day around your 14-hour window. Work backward from your delivery time and build in time for loading, breaks, and delays. The 14-hour clock is the one that catches most drivers off guard because it does not pause.

2. Use your ELD alerts. Modern ELDs warn you before you hit a violation. Pay attention to them. A 15-minute heads-up can save you from a fine.

3. Know your split sleeper berth options. If you are a long-haul driver, the 7/3 and 8/2 splits give you flexibility to manage your rest around delivery schedules.

4. Keep your supporting documents organized. Bills of lading, fuel receipts, and toll records should match your logs. If they don't, an inspector will notice.

5. Do not use personal conveyance to advance a load. This is a fast way to get a violation and draw attention to your entire log history.

If you are a carrier and your drivers keep running into HOS issues, the problem is usually in your trip planning or dispatch process. TIPS works with carriers to catch these problems before they become a violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does HOS stand for?

  HOS stands for Hours of Service. It refers to the federal rules set by the FMCSA that limit how long commercial motor vehicle drivers can drive and work before taking required rest breaks.

• How many hours can a truck driver drive in a day?

  Property-carrying drivers can drive up to 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. All driving must happen within a 14-hour on-duty window. Passenger-carrying drivers can drive up to 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty.

• What is the 14-hour rule in trucking?

  Once you come on duty, you have 14 consecutive hours to complete your driving. After 14 hours, you cannot drive again until you take 10 consecutive hours off. The clock does not pause for off-duty time during the day.

• When do I need to take a 30-minute break?

  Taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty resets your 60/70-hour weekly clock back to zero. There is no limit on how often you can use the restart.

• What is the sleeper berth split?

  You can split your required 10-hour off-duty rest into two periods using a 7/3 or 8/2 split. One period must be at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth. The other must be at least 2 hours off duty or in the sleeper berth. Neither period counts against the 14-hour driving window.

• Do short-haul drivers need an ELD?

  Not if they stay within the 150 air-mile radius, return to their starting location, and are released from duty within 14 hours. But the carrier must still keep time cards showing start times, end times, and total hours for each day. These must be retained for at least 6 months.

• What is personal conveyance?

  Personal conveyance is off-duty driving of a CMV for personal reasons, not for the commercial benefit of the carrier. It does not count against your driving or on-duty hours.

• What are the fines for HOS violations?

  FMCSA civil penalties range from $1,000 to $16,000 per violation depending on severity. State and local enforcement can add their own fines. Violations involving hazardous materials can exceed $75,000. Drivers may also be placed out of service on the spot.

• Do HOS rules apply to intrastate drivers?

  Federal HOS rules do not apply to intrastate drivers. Intrastate drivers follow their state's own hours of service rules, which may match the federal rules or differ in areas like maximum driving hours, weight thresholds, and exemptions.

Need Help with HOS Compliance?

TIPS provides DOT compliance services for motor carriers of all sizes. From safety audit preparation to driver qualification files, we help you build systems that hold up to inspection. Contact us or call (208) 278-6722 today for a free compliance check.