Understanding Truck Driving Hours and Regulations

Truck drivers know that every mile counts, but following truck driving rules is just as important as planning your route. Understanding federal trucking regulations—including the Hours of Service (HOS) rules—ensures safety, compliance, and efficiency on the road.

Understanding FMCSA Driving Limits

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the Department of Transportation (DOT), enforces truck driving rules that set clear limits on driving hours, rest breaks, and duty cycles. These federal trucking regulations aim to prevent fatigue, improve driver safety, and keep roads secure for everyone.

Truck Driving Rules: FMCSA Hours of Service (HOS) Guidelines

The FMCSA Hours of Service (HOS) rules are a set of truck driving regulations that determine how long a driver can stay on duty, when mandatory breaks must occur, and how to track compliance using electronic logging devices (ELDs).

The major components of HOS guidelines that every driver must abide by are:

• 14-Hour Driving Window: A limit to how long a driver may be on-duty in a day.
• 11-Hour Driving Limit: A limit to how many hours a driver can drive during the 14-Hour Driving Window
• 30-Minute Rest Break: A mandatory rest break taken after 8 hours of driving.
• 60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit: A weekly limit to the number of on-duty hours a driver can have.
• 34-Hour Restart: A required break before a driver can restart their 60/70-Hour Limit
• Sleeper Berth Provision: Regulations regarding how drivers can use their sleeping berth for rest.

How Long Can a Truck Driver Drive? Daily Limits Explained

Under FMCSA truck driving rules, a driver can operate for up to 11 hours within a 14-hour driving window, but only after taking at least 10 consecutive hours off duty. Once the 14-hour window starts, it cannot be paused, meaning all driving and on-duty tasks must be completed before the limit expires.

Together, these two rules comprise the 14-Hour Driving Window and the 11-Hour Driving Limit. To understand how they work together, it’s essential to be able to distinguish between on-duty hours and driving hours. While driving hours are just what they sound like—the hours spent actively driving the truck—on-duty hours also include the following activities:

• All time at a plant, terminal, facility, or other property waiting to be dispatched unless the driver has been relieved of duty.
• All time inspecting, servicing, or conditioning any truck. This includes fueling and washing it.
• All driving time.
• All time in or on a CMV other than time spent in a parked vehicle, time spent resting in a sleeper berth, or up to 3 hours of riding as a passenger immediately before or after at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth.
• All time spent loading, unloading, or attending to a truck.
• All time spent handling paperwork.
• All time taking care of a broken-down truck.

Truck Driving Rest Break Rules: How Often Must Truckers Stop?

To comply with FMCSA truck driving rules, truckers must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving. This break can consist of off-duty time, sleeper berth time, or on-duty, non-driving tasks. Skipping this required rest period can lead to violations and fines.

While it can be tempting to get the job done without stopping for any breaks, the HOS mandatory rest breaks are essential for maintaining driver safety. Following rest break guidelines can help to reduce driver fatigue, prevent traffic accidents, and help drivers remain alert and awake while they’re driving.

Adverse Driving Conditions: When Can Truckers Extend Their Hours?

Certain truck driving rules allow drivers to extend their driving and duty limits by up to 2 hours when faced with unforeseen adverse conditions. These conditions must be unexpected—such as a sudden snowstorm, dense fog, or road closures—not typical rush-hour traffic. Specifically:

• The driver didn’t know about the adverse weather before starting the trip.
• The driver could not have predicted the conditions or planned around them.

Exceptions to the HOS Rules

Other than the Adverse Weather Exception, there are a few other exceptions to the HOS rules:

• Non-CDL Short-Haul Exceptions. Short-haul drivers who meet the following qualifications do not need to log their hours:
  • They operate within 150 air miles of the company’s primary location.
  • They return to that location at the end of each day.
  • They do not operate any vehicles that require a CDL.
  • They do not drive more than 14 hours on more than 5 days in any 7-day period.
  • They do not drive more than 16 hours on more than 2 days in any 7-day period.
• 16-Hour Short Haul Exception. Short-haul drivers who come back to their primary location at the end of each day may be able to use this exception, which allows drivers to extend the 14-consecutive hour driving window to 16 hours once every 7 days. To use this exception, drivers must:
  • Return to their work reporting location that day and on the previous 5 duty days.
  • Be released from duty within 16 hours after coming on duty.
  • Use the exception only once every 7 consecutive days.

What Happens If You Violate Truck Driving Hour Limits?

Breaking FMCSA truck driving rules can lead to severe penalties, including:

• Being placed out of service, forcing drivers to stop (even on the side of the road) until enough off-duty time is accumulated.
• Fines ranging from $1,000 to $16,000, depending on the severity of the violation.
• A negative impact on a driver’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score, which can lead to long-term job consequences.

How to Follow Truck Driving Rules & Stay FMCSA Compliant

Following FMCSA truck driving rules doesn’t have to be complicated. Truck drivers and carriers can stay compliant by:

• Using Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to track hours automatically.
• Planning routes with built-in rest breaks and time for unexpected delays.
• Regularly reviewing the latest HOS regulations and exceptions.
• Monitoring hours proactively to prevent violations before they happen.
• Fostering a company culture that prioritizes safety over speed.
• Conducting internal audits to check for compliance.
• Using alerts or reminders for drivers approaching their hour limits.
• Encouraging open communication between drivers and dispatch about hours and fatigue.
• Ensuring proper documentation for any applicable exceptions.

Increase Road Safety with HOS Compliance

Staying compliant with truck driving rules and FMCSA HOS regulations isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about protecting drivers, preventing fatigue-related accidents, and ensuring smooth operations. Whether you’re an independent trucker or managing a fleet, following these regulations keeps the industry running safely and efficiently.