FMCSA Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers
The property-carrying hours-of-service limits under 49 CFR Part 395 — 11-hour driving, 14-hour window, 30-minute break, 60/70-hour limit, 34-hour restart, sleeper berth splits, and exceptions.
Hours-of-service (HOS) rules in 49 CFR Part 395 limit how long CMV drivers can drive and work. HOS violations are one of the most common driver out-of-service conditions. Here are the property-carrying rules as they currently stand.
The core limits (property carriers)
| Rule | Limit | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Driving limit | 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty | §395.3(a)(3) |
| Duty window | No driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty, following 10 hours off | §395.3(a)(2) |
| 30-minute break | Required after 8 cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption (on-duty not driving, off-duty, or sleeper berth all count) | §395.3(a)(3)(ii) |
| 60/70-hour limit | No driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 days | §395.3(b) |
| 34-hour restart | Optional. 34 or more consecutive hours off duty resets the 7/8-day period | §395.3(c) |
Sleeper berth provision
Drivers can meet the 10-hour off-duty requirement by splitting it into two periods. One period must be at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, and the other at least 2 hours (off duty or in the sleeper). The two periods must total at least 10 hours. When used together, neither period counts against the 14-hour window (§395.1(g)).
Common exceptions
- Adverse driving conditions: up to 2 extra hours of driving and an extended duty window when conditions could not have been known at dispatch (§395.1(b)).
- Short-haul exception: drivers who stay within a 150 air-mile radius and return within 14 hours don't need RODS/ELD (§395.1(e)(1)).
- 16-hour short-haul exception: once every 7 days (or after a 34-hour restart) for drivers who return to their work reporting location (§395.1(o)).
- Agricultural and other exemptions apply in specific cases.
ELD requirements
Most drivers who must keep RODS must use a registered ELD (Part 395 Subpart B). Drivers must carry the ELD user manual, a data-transfer instruction sheet, a malfunction instruction sheet, and blank paper logs for at least 8 days.
HOS out-of-service conditions
Driving past the 11-hour, 14-hour, or 60/70-hour limit, or having no record of duty status when one is required, puts the driver out of service. Under the current OOSC, a driver who exceeded the 11-, 14-, or 60/70-hour limit is placed OOS for 10 consecutive hours off duty, or until they are back under the 60/70-hour limit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many hours can a truck driver drive in a day?
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Property-carrying drivers may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty.
When is the 30-minute break required?
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A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving time without at least a 30-minute interruption. On-duty not driving time, off-duty time, or sleeper berth time all satisfy the break.
What does the 34-hour restart do?
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Taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty resets the 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day on-duty clock to zero.
This guide is for general information and pre-inspection preparation only. It is not legal advice. Always check the current text of 49 CFR at ecfr.gov and the current CVSA OOS Criteria.