Limits and minutes
The hours-of-service (HOS) regulations, located in Part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, limit the number of hours an individual operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) can drive, as well as the number of allowable on-duty hours. Compliance with HOS regulations includes a robust understanding of driving limits, as well as accurate and complete records of duty status (RODS).
Remember, the main goal of the HOS regulations is to keep fatigued drivers off the road.
TIP: Engage your team with a Q&A session to establish a baseline for what your drivers already know.
Planning for the day
Drivers must understand their daily limits:
11-hour driving rule
• All time spent driving behind the wheel of a CMV is considered driving time.
• After driving for 11 hours, drivers must have at least 10 consecutive hours of off duty time before driving again.
14-hour duty limit
• The 11 hours of driving time must fall within a period of 14 consecutive hours of duty time.
• Drivers cannot continue beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty until they’ve had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers may still work, but no additional driving is allowed.
• The 14 hours are consecutive from the time the driver starts the tour of duty. Lunch breaks and other off-duty time don’t extend the 14-hour period.
Time for a break
Drivers are required to take one 30-minute break from driving if they’ve driven for 8 hours without having a break from driving. This break may include off-duty time, on-duty non-driving time, and sleeper-berth time.
TIP: Try using a video to demonstrate the rules. When choosing a video, consider your drivers’ experiences and the HOS situations they regularly
Planning for the cycle
These rules are based on the amount of on-duty time in a 7- or 8-day period.
60-hour/7-day limit
• If the motor carrier doesn’t operate CMVs every day of the week, then drivers must not drive after accumulating 60 hours on duty during 7 consecutive days.
70-hour/8-day limit
• If the motor carrier does operate CMVs every day of the week, then drivers must not drive after accumulating 70 hours on duty in 8 consecutive days.
34-hour restart
• Drivers have the option to “restart” the calculation of the 60-hour/7-day limit or 70-hour/8-day limit by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.
• The time may be spent off duty, in a sleeper berth, or using any combination of the two, but the time must be consecutive (no driving or on-duty time allowed).
• Once at least 34 hours of rest have been taken, a new 7- or 8-day period begins, and the hours worked before the rest break began are no longer taken into consideration. ♦
TIP: Bring an ELD into the session for some hands-on learning.
