Hours of Service (Motor Carriers): What you need to know

Hours-of-service (HOS) regulations are enforced to ensure that drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) take adequate periods of rest or periods off duty to be able to drive safely when on duty.

Companies and drivers that commit egregious violations could face the maximum penalties for each offense. Trucking companies that allow drivers to exceed the 11-hour driving limit by 3 or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and the drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense.

A motor carrier must neither permit nor require any driver of a property-carrying CMV to drive, nor may a driver drive unless the driver complies with the following requirements:

• Start of work shift. A driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-hour period. A driver may drive only during a period of 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty. The driver may not drive after the end of the 14-consecutive-hour period without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• Driving time and rest breaks:
• Driving time. A driver may drive a total of 11 hours during the 14-hour period.
• Rest breaks. Driving is not permitted if more than 8 hours have passed since the end of the driver's last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes.

A motor carrier must neither permit nor require any driver of a property-carrying CMV to drive, nor may a driver drive for any period after:

• Having been on duty 60 hours in any period of 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate CMVs every day of the week; or
• Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 ...