The Department of Transportation (DOT) rules are important for the trucking industry and the people it touches. They apply to long-haul truckers, but also to drivers hauling property or people short distances and to those hauling hazardous materials.
Their goals are to protect drivers by having safety rules, to fight driver fatigue with rest breaks, and to have all truck drivers, no matter what route, follow hour-of-service rules. That’s what the DOT is after with these rules.
Hours of Service (HOS) Rules for Commercial Drivers
Hours of Service (HOS) rules, from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), are key to road safety and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators. They set driving, on-duty, and off-duty time limits to reduce driver fatigue, which is a big accident cause in trucking, especially for interstate or hazardous materials hauling.
HOS rules define driving time (time behind the wheel) and on-duty time (all working hours, not just driving). That’s important to prevent fatigue. For property-carrying CMV drivers, that means breaking requirements after certain hours of driving. Rest is key to preventing fatigue accidents.
Following HOS rules is safety and compliance for drivers and fleet managers in trucking. By knowing and following these rules, drivers and fleet managers are part of a safer, more efficient transportation network and stay within driving hours and on-duty limits. That’s safety and well-being for everyone.
Standard HOS Rules
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has Hours of Service (HOS) rules for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators to reduce fatigue and safety. For property-carrying CMV drivers, that’s 11 hours of driving and 14 hours on duty in a 7 or 8-day period based on the company’s schedule. For passenger-carrying drivers, it’s similar over an 8-day period. These are safety rules for trucking, especially for interstate or hazardous materials hauling.
HOS rules require a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving for property-carrying CMV drivers. That’s to reduce fatigue. Drivers need to rest, reduce fatigue accidents, and stay alert. That’s to stay alert and cognitive for all road users.
By following HOS rules, CMV operators and fleet managers are part of safer roads and less driving time. Compliance is for driver well-being and operations in trucking, not just drivers. It’s all of us for road safety and transportation.
Short-Haul Exemption: 16-Hour Rule for Short-Haul Drivers
The short-haul exemption in HOS rules has special rules for CMV drivers doing short deliveries and pick-ups. That’s the 14-hour on-duty limit extended to 16 hours for eligible drivers so they can adapt to short-haul operations. That’s efficiency in trucking, especially for interstate or hazardous materials hauling.
To be eligible for this exemption, drivers must be within the 150-air-mile radius, start and end their day at the same work reporting location within 14 consecutive hours, and be a short-haul driver. There are other exemptions; if you think you qualify for this, contact the DOT to check. Also, this exemption can only be used once every six days. This exemption removes the 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving since short-haul trucking has frequent stops and shorter trip lengths.
To be eligible, drivers must operate solely within the 150-air-mile radius, start and end their day at the same work reporting location within 14 hours, and be a short-haul driver. Other exemptions exist; if you think you qualify for this, contact the DOT to check. This exemption can only be used once every six days. It removes the 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving since short-haul trucking has frequent stops and shorter trip lengths.
But short-haul drivers need to monitor themselves and not get fatigued, even with the break requirements relaxed. Safety and alertness first; take breaks when needed to safety and compliance in trucking, whether it’s general freight or hazardous materials. That’s all of us for road safety and efficiency.
Truck Drivers and Fleet Managers
Hours of Service (HOS) rules are tricky for truck drivers and fleet managers, especially with the 16-hour rule and short-haul exception. This exception allows qualified short-haul drivers in commercial motor vehicles to be on duty for up to two hours more under certain conditions—adverse driving conditions or unexpected traffic delays. Drivers need to use that flexibility wisely and not compromise safety or go over their driving window, especially for hazardous materials or interstate hauling.
For long-haul truck drivers, the sleeper berth provision is a customized rest solution. It allows drivers to split their rest into two parts to manage rest better on long trips. Drivers must use that flexibility to stay alert and safe, and each rest part must be long enough to rest against fatigue.
Fleet managers and drivers need to know these HOS rules and exceptions. Use the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as a resource to be compliant and safe. Knowing these rules—short-haul exception and sleeper berth provision—is key to safety and efficiency in trucking, whether short-haul or long-haul.
HOS Resources and Compliance for Trucking
HOS rules are hard for fleet managers and drivers, especially for interstate or hazardous materials hauling. Being current with these rules is safety and penalties.
A key to compliance is ELDs (Electronic Logging Devices). These are electronic logs that automate the recording and tracking of service hours, on-duty time, and driving time. Here are some of the benefits:
- Accuracy: ELDs eliminate manual errors or falsified entries that are common with paper logs for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators and short-haul drivers.
- Efficiency: ELDs capture data automatically for drivers and fleet managers, and manage driving hours and duty status.
- Real-time monitoring: Fleet managers can see driver activity in real-time to proactively manage HOS compliance, especially for those under the 16-hour short-haul exception or adverse driving conditions.
FMCSA and industry resources are available to help with HOS rules. That includes DOT driving regulations, the 16-hour rule, and property and passenger-carrying driver guidelines.
For fleet managers and drivers, especially those with gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) considerations, knowing the exceptions—short-haul exception or adverse driving conditions exception—is key. Those rules affect a driver’s whole day, from off-duty time to consecutive hours off-duty.
Check out our blog on hours of service regulations to better understand how to avoid violations.
Conclusion
Knowing and following HOS rules and DOT driving hours is safety and public safety for commercial drivers and the general public. That includes the 16-hour short-haul exception for property-carrying drivers, adverse driving conditions exception, and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for commercial motor vehicles. Drivers and fleet managers need to know these rules, use ELDs, and be federal and state-compliant. Compliance is not just legal; it’s fatigue reduction, safety, and trucking industry efficiency.
