What are the FMCSA hours-of-service rules?
Property-carrying drivers may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty, must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving, and cannot drive after 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. A 34-hour off-duty restart resets the weekly cycle.
Hours-of-service (HOS) rules keep tired drivers off the road, and they also set how many miles a truck can legally run in a day and week. Here is a plain-English summary for property-carrying drivers under FMCSA rules (49 CFR Part 395). Always confirm current rules and your own exemptions with FMCSA and your ELD provider.
The core limits
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| 11-hour driving limit | You may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. |
| 14-hour on-duty window | You may not drive after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. Breaks do not stop the clock. |
| 30-minute break | After 8 cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption, you must take a 30-minute break. |
| 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. |
| 34-hour restart | 34 consecutive hours off duty resets your 60/70-hour cycle. |
Sleeper berth splits
Drivers with a sleeper berth can split the 10-hour off-duty requirement, commonly into a 7/3 or 8/2 pattern, with one period of at least 7 or 8 hours in the sleeper and a second period of at least 2 or 3 hours off duty or in the berth. Done correctly, the paired periods can pause the 14-hour window. This is where many violations happen, so follow your ELD's guidance.
Common exceptions
- Adverse driving conditions can extend the driving limit by up to two hours in specific cases.
- Short-haul exception: drivers who stay within 150 air miles of their reporting location and return within 14 hours may qualify for relief from some logging requirements.
- Personal conveyance and yard moves have their own rules.
The exceptions have detailed conditions. Do not rely on a summary for compliance decisions.
How HOS affects your money
HOS caps the miles you can run. A truck averaging 55 mph over 11 driving hours covers a bit over 600 miles in a day; weekly, the 70-hour cycle is the real limit. That is why deadhead and waiting time cost you legal hours, not just fuel. Use the hours of service calculator to estimate how many driving hours you have left, and the deadhead miles calculator to see how empty miles cut your effective rate.
Planning around HOS with a dispatcher
A good dispatcher plans loads so your delivery windows fit your remaining hours and your 34-hour restart lands where you want home time. At Texas Solutions you approve every load, and we book with your hours in mind. Talk to a dispatcher.
The HOS calculator is a planning aid, not a legal record. Your ELD is your official log.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 14-hour rule in trucking?
After coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off, a driver may not drive after the 14th consecutive hour. The 14-hour window keeps running during breaks, with limited exceptions such as qualifying sleeper-berth splits.
How does the 34-hour restart work?
Taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty resets your 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day cycle to zero.
Do box truck and hotshot drivers follow hours of service?
If the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (generally over 10,000 lbs GVWR), FMCSA hours-of-service rules apply, subject to exceptions such as the short-haul exemption.
