Introduction
DOT Hours of Service (HOS) rules limit how long commercial truck drivers can drive and remain on duty. For property-carrying drivers, federal HOS regulations generally allow up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour driving window.
Local truck drivers may also qualify for the short-haul exception. Drivers who meet the requirements can use time records instead of maintaining a traditional record of duty status (RODS) or using an ELD. To qualify, drivers generally must operate within a 150-air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location and return to that location within 14 consecutive hours.
Below, we’ll explain DOT Hours of Service rules for local drivers, how many hours local drivers can drive, how the short-haul exception works, and what drivers need to know about HOS compliance.
What are DOT Hours of Service (HOS) Rules?
Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are federal rules that establish how long commercial motor vehicle drivers can drive and work before they are required to take time off. The rules are administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and are intended to reduce driver fatigue and improve roadway safety.
For property-carrying truck drivers, HOS regulations cover several major limits, including the 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour driving window, required off-duty time, 60/70-hour limits, and required breaks.
Local drivers are generally subject to HOS requirements as well, but drivers who qualify for the short-haul exception have different record-keeping requirements.
How Many Hours Can a Local Truck Driver Drive?
A property-carrying commercial truck driver can generally drive a maximum of 11 hours after at least 10 consecutive hours off duty. Those 11 driving hours must fall within a 14-consecutive-hour driving window that begins when the driver comes on duty.
Local drivers who qualify for the short-haul exception are not given additional driving hours. The exception primarily changes certain logging and record-keeping requirements. Qualifying drivers must remain within a 150-air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location and return to that location within 14 consecutive hours.
This means “11 hours of driving” and a “14-hour driving window” are not the same thing. A driver may have non-driving work during the 14-hour window, but generally cannot drive more than 11 total hours.
DOT Hours of Service Rules at a Glance
| HOS Rule | Property-Carrying Driver Requirement |
|---|---|
| Driving Limit | Up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty |
| Driving Window | Driving must occur within the 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty |
| Off-Duty Requirement | 10 consecutive hours off duty before beginning a new driving period |
| 30-Minute Break | Required after 8 cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute qualifying interruption |
| 60/70-Hour Limit | No driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on the carrier’s operation |
| 34-Hour Restart | A qualifying 34+ consecutive hours off duty may restart the 7/8-day period |
Short-Haul Exception for Local Truck Drivers
Local truck drivers may qualify for the DOT short-haul exception, which changes certain HOS logging requirements for drivers who stay close to their normal work reporting location.
Under the current short-haul exception, a qualifying property-carrying driver must generally:
- Operate within a 150-air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location.
- Return to the normal work reporting location within 14 consecutive hours.
- Start and end the shift at the same reporting location.
- Have at least 10 consecutive hours off duty between shifts.
Drivers who meet the short-haul requirements can generally use time records instead of maintaining a traditional RODS or using an ELD. The motor carrier must still maintain the required time records.
Importantly, the short-haul exception does not mean local drivers can simply drive for 14 hours. Property-carrying drivers remain subject to applicable driving-time limits, including the 11-hour driving limit.
Property-Carrying vs. Passenger-Carrying HOS Rules
HOS requirements differ between property-carrying and passenger-carrying commercial drivers. Property-carrying drivers can generally drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty and cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
Passenger-carrying drivers generally have a 10-hour driving limit after 8 consecutive hours off duty and may not drive after accumulating 15 hours on duty.
Because this guide focuses on local freight and property-carrying truck drivers, the sections below primarily address property-carrier HOS requirements.
Off-Duty Time and Break Requirements
Property-carrying drivers generally need at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before beginning a new driving period.
Drivers subject to the 30-minute break requirement must take a qualifying break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption. The break can be satisfied by 30 consecutive minutes of non-driving time, including on-duty/not-driving time.
Property-carrying drivers who qualify for the short-haul exception are excepted from the 30-minute break requirement under the federal HOS rules.
Sleeper-berth provisions primarily provide flexibility for drivers who spend extended periods on the road and are less relevant to many local operations.
ELD and Record-Keeping Requirements for Local Drivers
Most drivers who are required to maintain a record of duty status must use an Electronic Logging Device (ELD), subject to applicable exceptions. However, qualifying short-haul drivers have different record-keeping requirements.
Drivers operating under the short-haul exception generally do not need to maintain a traditional RODS or use an ELD for qualifying short-haul operations. Instead, the motor carrier must maintain accurate time records documenting required information such as when the driver reports for duty, total hours on duty, and when the driver is released from duty.
The short-haul exception is an exception from certain logging requirements, not an exemption from Hours of Service rules altogether. Drivers and carriers still need to monitor hours and ensure the operation meets the requirements of the exception.
HOS Violations and Penalties
Hours of Service violations can result in enforcement action against drivers and motor carriers. Depending on the violation, consequences can include drivers being placed out of service until they have accumulated enough off-duty time to return to compliance, as well as civil penalties for drivers or carriers.
Accurate record-keeping is particularly important for local operations using the short-haul exception. Drivers and carriers should make sure the requirements of the exception are met and that required time records are maintained.
Local Truck Drivers: How to Stay HOS Compliant
Local drivers and motor carriers can make HOS compliance easier by building the requirements into everyday route planning and record-keeping.
- Know whether the operation qualifies for the 150-air-mile short-haul exception.
- Track both driving time and total on-duty time.
- Plan routes so drivers can return to their reporting location within the required 14-hour window.
- Maintain accurate time records even when an ELD or traditional log is not required.
- Know what happens when a route no longer qualifies for the short-haul exception.
- Regularly review current FMCSA HOS requirements rather than relying on older 100-air-mile/12-hour guidance.
Local operations may have simpler logging requirements when they qualify for the short-haul exception, but that does not eliminate the need to monitor Hours of Service.
Understanding HOS Rules for Local Drivers
DOT Hours of Service rules apply to both local and over-the-road commercial drivers, but qualifying local drivers can take advantage of the short-haul exception’s simplified record-keeping requirements.
For property-carrying drivers, the key numbers to remember are 11 hours of driving, a 14-hour driving window, 10 consecutive hours off duty, and when using the short-haul exception, a 150-air-mile operating radius.
Because HOS regulations and guidance can change, drivers and motor carriers should verify current requirements with the FMCSA when determining how the rules apply to a specific operation.