Hours of Service
Status
Verification Status: 🟢 Verified
Last Reviewed: 2026-06-30
Official Source: eCFR Title 49 Part 395
Primary checked sections:
- 49 CFR §395.3 — Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles
- 49 CFR §395.1 — Scope and exceptions
Short Answer
For most property-carrying truck drivers, the basic federal Hours of Service rule is: take 10 consecutive hours off duty before a shift, do not drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty, drive no more than 11 total hours in that shift, take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time if required, and stay within the 60/70-hour weekly limits.
Plain English Explanation
Hours of Service is the federal rule set that limits how long a commercial driver can drive and work before taking required time off.
For a typical property-carrying truck driver:
- You need 10 consecutive hours off duty before starting a new driving window.
- Once you come on duty, your 14-hour clock starts.
- Inside that 14-hour window, you can drive up to 11 total hours.
- If more than 8 hours of driving time passes, you generally need at least a 30-minute interruption in driving status before continuing to drive, unless a short-haul exception applies.
- You cannot drive after reaching 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours on duty in 8 days, depending on how the carrier operates.
- A 34-hour off-duty period can restart the 7- or 8-day period under §395.3(c).
This is not about how tired you feel. It is about what your log legally shows.
Real Driver Example
A dry van driver takes 10 consecutive hours off duty, then starts work at 6:00 AM.
That driver’s 14-hour clock normally ends at 8:00 PM. Within that window, the driver may drive up to 11 total hours, but cannot keep driving past the allowed limits just because there is more freight to move.
If the driver has been driving for more than 8 hours without a qualifying 30-minute interruption, the driver needs the required break before driving more.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking the 14-hour clock pauses just because the truck is parked. In most normal situations, the 14-hour period keeps running after the driver comes on duty.
- Confusing driving time with on-duty time. Loading, inspections, fueling, and paperwork can still count as on-duty time even when the truck is not moving.
- Forgetting the 60/70-hour weekly limit while focusing only on the 11-hour and 14-hour rules.
- Assuming every driver qualifies for a short-haul or other exception without checking §395.1.
- Treating the 30-minute interruption as optional after more than 8 hours of driving time.
Inspection Risk
Risk Level: High
Hours of Service violations are a major roadside inspection and compliance risk because the driver’s logs can show violations directly. Problems can include exceeding driving limits, missing required breaks, using the wrong duty status, or misunderstanding exceptions.
Exceptions
There are exceptions and special rules in §395.1, including short-haul operations, adverse driving conditions, emergency conditions, and industry-specific exceptions.
Do not assume an exception applies. A driver or carrier should verify the exact exception language before relying on it.
Official FMCSA/DOT Reference
- Source: eCFR Title 49 Part 395
- URL: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-395
- Source type: Federal regulation
- Last checked by Crayco Route: 2026-06-30
What Is Fact vs Crayco Explanation
Official fact:
- §395.3 says a property-carrying driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- §395.3 says the driver may not drive after 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- §395.3 says the driver may drive a total of 11 hours during that 14-hour period.
- §395.3 includes the 60/70-hour limits and 34-hour restart language.
Crayco plain-English explanation:
- Your log has multiple clocks: your 11-hour drive time, 14-hour work window, 30-minute break requirement, and 60/70-hour weekly cap. A legal day means all of them are okay, not just one.
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Regulatory Note
This guide is plain-English education for drivers, not legal advice. Always verify requirements with the official government source linked above.