Introduction
The Department of Transportation (DOT) Hours of Service (HOS) rules are for truck drivers’ safety and health. They limit how many hours they can drive and work. For local truck drivers, knowing and following HOS is key as they run their routes within a certain area, and are home by the end of each shift. The main rules are: 11 hours after 10 hours off and 14 hours in a day (all time on duty, not just driving time).
HOS rules prevent accidents caused by fatigue, which is bad for the driver and the public. Both local and over-the-road (OTR) drivers must follow HOS, but there are differences. Local drivers are under the short-haul exemption, which means more flexible logging if they stay within a 150-air-mile radius and are done with their day within 14 hours. OTR drivers have stricter logging because of the longer distances and being away from home for longer, so their hours need to be monitored more closely.
What are DOT Hours of Service (HOS) Rules?
DOT Hours of Service (HOS) rules are the Department of Transportation’s rules for commercial vehicle drivers’ working hours to make the roads safer by reducing fatigue. They’re the maximum hours on duty and behind the wheel, and rest periods. HOS is so drivers have rest reduce fatigue accidents and make the public safer on the highways.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the one that enforces HOS rules. FMCSA’s job is to monitor, inspect, and make sure commercial drivers follow those safety rules. Key terms for HOS are Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – the fully-loaded vehicle weight; Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) – loaded vehicle and trailer weight; Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) – any business use vehicle that meets certain weight or passenger guidelines; and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) – a digital tool to log hours and HOS.
General HOS Rules for Truckers
General Hours of Service (HOS) rules for truckers are these:
- 11 hours driving after 10 hours off
- 14 hours on duty (all time on duty, not just driving time)
- After 14 hours on duty, 10 hours off before going back to work
The 11-hour driving rule means a driver can drive for 11 hours after 10 hours off. That’s rest before a new shift. The 14-hour on-duty rule means total time on duty, including breaks and non-driving work time. After 14 hours on duty, 10 hours off before going back to work.
Another part of HOS rules is the 60/70-hour duty cycle. That’s the total hours on duty in 7 or 8 days. Drivers under the 60-hour limit can’t exceed 60 hours in 7 days, and those under the 70-hour limit can’t exceed 70 hours in 8 days. To reset the duty cycle, drivers can use the 34-hour restart provision, which is to take 34 hours off and then restart the 7 or 8-day period. HOS rules also have off-duty time and rest period requirements. That includes breaks – a 30-minute rest break after 8 hours of driving so drivers stay alert on the road.
Specific HOS Rules for Local Truckers
Specific Hours of Service (HOS) rules apply to local or short-haul truckers – drivers who operate within a certain radius of their base of operations. That’s drivers who work within 100 air miles of their normal work reporting location. Their routes are more predictable and shorter than over-the-road (OTR) drivers. One of the local driver rules is they don’t have to log hours like long-haul drivers as long as they’re back at their starting point within that radius.
Local truckers are limited to 12 hours on duty, which means all driving and non-driving time within a 12-hour period. If they’re within that 100-mile radius and follow that limit, they don’t have to use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and can use timecards instead. That’s more flexible than OTR drivers, who have to use ELDs to log hours and have stricter driving and on-duty time limits. OTR drivers have an 11-hour driving limit and a 14-hour on-duty limit, but local drivers have rules tailored to their shorter, more predictable routes.
HOS Rules for Property-Carrying vs. Passenger-Carrying Drivers
Hours of Service (HOS) rules are different for property-carrying and passenger-carrying drivers, each for their own operations and safety. For property-carrying drivers, the rules are an 11-hour driving limit – they can drive 11 hours after 10 hours off. And a 14-hour on-duty limit (all time on duty, not just driving time). Once they hit that 14-hour limit, they must be off for 10 hours before starting the next duty period.
Note: Property-carrying drivers are not the same as passenger-carrying drivers. HOS rules for passenger-carrying drivers are more restrictive.
Passenger-carrying drivers have slightly different HOS rules to protect their passengers. They have a 10-hour driving limit – 10 hours after 8 hours off. A 15-hour on-duty limit (1 hour more than property-carrying drivers) to account for passengers. Both types of drivers must also consider special provisions for adverse driving conditions, which can add up to 2 hours to the driving limit if weather or traffic is so bad they can’t stop. These rules are for both property-carrying and passenger-carrying drivers to be safe and responsible, even in tough driving conditions.
Off-Duty Time and Breaks
Off-duty time and breaks are a big part of Hours of Service (HOS) rules, so truckers have time to rest and be safe on the road. One of the rules is a 10-hour consecutive off-duty period after the maximum hours on duty. That’s to help drivers recover and reduce fatigue-related accidents. HOS rules also require a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time so drivers can rest and refuel.
The sleeper berth provision gives long-haul drivers more flexibility to manage rest periods. They can split their 10-hour off-duty period into two segments – one of which must be at least 8 hours in the sleeper berth and the remaining 2 hours off-duty or in the sleeper berth. That’s more flexible than local drivers, who operate within a shorter radius and are home daily. Local drivers don’t use the sleeper berth provision as much. Their off-duty and break rules are simpler – get rest between shifts and during the workday. All these rules help driver alertness and road safety.
Compliance and Record-Keeping
Compliance and record-keeping are part of Hours of Service (HOS) rules so truckers follow safety and legal rules. One of the tools to track HOS compliance is the Electronic Logging Device (ELD). ELDs automatically log driving time, engine hours, vehicle movement, and location. That’s an accurate and tamper-proof log of hours driven. Easier to track and fewer violations of HOS rules means safer roads.
Note: ELDs are one of the tools to track HOS compliance, not the only one. Timecards and paper logs are still allowed for short-haul drivers and those who don’t need ELDs.
But there’s an exception for short-haul drivers regarding ELDs. Drivers within a 100-air-mile radius and completing their workday within 12 hours don’t need ELDs, as long as they keep timecards or other hours of service records. That’s because short-haul drivers operate differently than long-haul drivers. Although exempt, record-keeping is still important. Local law enforcement and federal inspectors will use those records to verify HOS compliance during inspections and audits. Good documentation prevents penalties and makes sure drivers and companies follow safety rules.
HOS Violations and Penalties
Violating Hours of Service (HOS) rules has big consequences – both civil and federal criminal. Drivers and trucking companies found violating HOS rules will be fined, and the amount depends on the severity and number of violations. In extreme cases, really bad violations can be federal criminal charges if they cause accidents or if public safety is at risk. That’s a big deterrent to following HOS rules. So, compliance is key.
Note: Civil and federal criminal penalties are for drivers and trucking companies. Drivers can also face driver-specific penalties, such as license suspension or revocation.
However, violating HOS rules has other consequences beyond legal penalties. A driver’s HOS violations will show on their safety record, and that affects hiring. For trucking companies, repeated HOS violations mean more scrutiny from regulators, higher insurance rates, and potentially losing operating authority. Non-compliance with HOS rules means driver fatigue, and fatigue is a big reason for accidents. Fatigued drivers make mistakes, are slow to react to hazards, and are less alert. That means big accidents. Learn more about HOS Violations in our blog.
Local Truck Drivers: How to Stay Compliant
Staying compliant with Hours of Service (HOS) rules is important for local truck drivers, and route and schedule planning is key. Plan your routes and schedules carefully to not exceed HOS limits and to deliver within driving and on-duty time. That’s proactive and minimizes violations and maximizes efficiency. Use short-haul exceptions wisely – if you’re within a 100-air-mile radius and back to the starting point within 12 hours, you have more flexible logging requirements. Know and use those exceptions to make compliance easier and administrative burdens lighter.
Logging and off-duty status records are key for local truck drivers to be compliant. Although short-haul drivers don’t need ELDs, they still need to keep timecards or other hours of service records. That’s for hours worked and rest periods. Record-keeping is compliance during inspections by local law enforcement and federal agencies. Know DOT rules and regulations and changes. Regulations change and knowing the latest helps drivers and companies comply and avoid penalties. Training and HOS rule updates will help drivers be compliant and safe on the road.
Conclusion
Knowing and following Department of Transportation (DOT) Hours of Service (HOS) rules is safety and efficiency for truck drivers and the entire trucking industry. Those rules are to prevent fatigue and set driving and on-duty hours so drivers have rest. HOS compliance is safety on the road and protection for drivers and companies from legal penalties and operational reliability.
Driver safety and compliance in the trucking industry are key, so drivers need to know and be aware of HOS rule changes. Training and education will help drivers adapt to new rules. Knowing and watching HOS rules is a safer driving environment and professional trucking.
