Hours-Of-Service Rules

Hours of service (HOS) regulations are revised periodically to reflect change in the transportation operating environment and the ever-present safety concern for the industries driver resource and public safety. The following regulations were effective as of September 25, 2017: it is recommended that HOS be reviewed regularly to remain abreast of regulatory changes. Regulations are viewable on-line at https://www.ecfr.gov

MAXIMUM DRIVING TIME FOR PROPERTY CARRYING VEHICLES §395.3

1. A driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty
2. A driver may drive only during a period of 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty. The driver may not drive after the end of the 14-consecutive-hour period without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
3. A driver may drive a total of 11 hours during the 14-hour period
4. Driving is not permitted if more than 8 hours have passed since the end of the driver’s last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes.
5. HOS shall not exceed 60 hours if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week
6. HOS shall not exceed 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.
7. Any period of 7 consecutive days may end with the beginning of an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours that includes two periods from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
8. Any period of 8 consecutive days may end with the beginning of an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours that includes two periods from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
9. When a driver takes more than one off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours within a period of 168 consecutive hours (7 days), he or she must indicate in the Remarks section of the record of duty status which such off-duty period is being used to restart the calculation of 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days.

MAXIMUM DRIVING TIME FOR PASSENGER CARRYING VEHICLES. §395.5

1. No driver may drive more than 10 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty
2. No driver may drive for any period after having been on duty 15 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty.
3. No driver may drive after having been on duty 60 hours any 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.
4. No driver may drive after having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.

EXCEPTIONS TO MAXIMUM DRIVING TIMES §395.1

An additional 2-hours of driving is permitted in addition to the 11 hours of driving if adverse weather conditions are encountered during the run. However, the 14-hour rule remains inviolable.

Encountering an emergency condition allows for the completion of the run if the run could have reasonably been completed absent the emergency.

Driver-salesperson whose total driving time does not exceed 40 hours in any consecutive 7-day period.

Drivers involved exclusively in oilfield operations may end any period of 8 consecutive days with any off-duty period of 24 or more consecutive hours. All remaining HOS requirements remain applicable.

Exceptions for specially trained drivers of specially constructed vehicles used in oil field operations are allowed to log waiting time at natural gas or oil well sites as “off-duty” and such time is exempted from the 14-hour rule. These drivers may not use the 100-mile exemption rule.

Agricultural Operations

Agricultural operations retain their current statutory exception from driving time requirements for transportation occurring within a 150 air-mile radius of a farm or distribution point during planting or harvesting season within each state, as determined by the State.