Truck & Car Guides / Trucking life & careers
Hours-of-service basics
The federal rules that limit how long truck drivers can drive and work, explained in plain English: the 11-hour, 14-hour, 30-minute and 60/70-hour limits.
Why the rules exist
Fatigue is a major factor in serious truck crashes. The FMCSA's hours-of-service (HOS) rules limit how long commercial drivers can drive and be on duty, and require minimum rest. The rules below are the general federal limits for property-carrying drivers (freight, not passengers). Passenger carriers have different limits, and some short-haul and agricultural operations have exceptions.
The four main limits
| Rule | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|
| 11-hour driving limit | After 10 consecutive hours off duty, you may drive up to 11 hours. |
| 14-hour window | Once you start your day, you may not drive after the 14th hour since you came on duty. Breaks do not stop this clock. |
| 30-minute break | After 8 cumulative hours of driving, you need a break of at least 30 consecutive minutes not driving. |
| 60/70-hour limit | You may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on your carrier's schedule. |
How they fit together
Picture a driver who comes on duty at 6:00 a.m. after a 10-hour break. They can drive a total of 11 hours, but they must stop driving by 8:00 p.m. (14 hours after 6:00 a.m.), even if they still have driving time left. Somewhere after 8 hours of driving they must take a 30-minute non-driving break. Loading, fueling and paperwork count as on-duty time and burn the 14-hour window.
The 34-hour restart
A driver can reset their 60- or 70-hour clock to zero by taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. Many drivers take this over a weekend.
Sleeper berth splits
Drivers with a sleeper cab can split their 10 required off-duty hours into two periods, as long as:
- One period is at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, and
- The other period is at least 2 consecutive hours, off duty or in the sleeper, and
- The two add up to at least 10 hours.
Common splits are 7 and 3 or 8 and 2. When paired correctly, neither period counts against the 14-hour window. The math can get tricky, which is one reason ELDs show clocks for each limit.
Adverse driving conditions
If unexpected bad weather or traffic conditions arise that the driver did not know about when starting, the driving limit and the 14-hour window can generally be extended by up to 2 hours to reach a safe stopping place. It does not cover conditions that were forecast or known.
Short-haul exception
Drivers who stay within 150 air miles of their normal work reporting location, return there within 14 hours and meet other conditions may be exempt from keeping a full log and the 30-minute break requirement. Many local drivers operate under this exception.
Duty statuses
Every minute of a driver's day is logged in one of four statuses:
- Off duty
- Sleeper berth
- Driving
- On duty, not driving (inspections, fueling, loading, paperwork)
Logging honestly matters. Violations can lead to fines, being placed out of service and lower carrier safety scores.
HOS limits are maximums, not targets. If you are drowsy, stop in a safe place and rest, no matter what the clock says.
Official source
The rules are in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 395, and the FMCSA summarizes them on its hours of service page. This page is a general summary; check the official guidance for exceptions and recent changes.
