What Is 14-Hour Rule in Trucking?
Also called: 14 Hour Window, 14-Hour Driving Window, 14 Hour Rule
The 14-hour rule says a property-carrying driver may not drive after 14 consecutive hours on duty, counted from coming on duty after 10 hours off. The clock keeps running during breaks, meals and waiting, so it works like a window. Inside it the driver may drive up to 11 hours. A few exceptions, such as the 16-hour exception, change how it works.
Last reviewed September 23, 2026 · Facts checked October 17, 2026
Key Points
- A driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)(1))
- A driver may not drive after 14 consecutive hours from coming on duty after those 10 hours off (395.3(a)(2))
- The 14 hours are consecutive. Time spent off duty, waiting or loading does not stop the clock
- The rule limits driving after the 14th hour. It does not say you must stop all work, but on-duty time still counts toward the weekly limit
- A split sleeper berth can pause the window. A qualifying rest period is left out of the 14 hours (395.1(g)(1)(iii))
- Some drivers have exceptions, such as the 16-hour exception for drivers who return to base (395.1(o)) and up to 2 extra hours in adverse driving conditions (395.1(b)(1))
What is the 14-hour rule for truck drivers?
It limits when a driver may drive. After 10 hours off duty, the driver starts a 14-hour period when coming on duty. The driver may not drive after that period ends, until taking another 10 hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)). Think of it as a window that opens when your day starts and shuts 14 hours later, whether or not you used all of it. It applies to drivers of property-carrying commercial motor vehicles.
How does the 14-hour clock work?
The clock starts when you come on duty after at least 10 consecutive hours off duty. It runs without stopping. A 2-hour wait at a dock, a meal and a 30-minute break all use up time in the window. Driving inside the window is capped at 11 hours in total (395.3(a)(3)). So you can run out of window before you run out of driving hours, which is why long waits hurt.
Can a driver work more than 14 hours?
The rule limits driving, not all work. A driver may not drive after the 14th hour. Other on-duty work, such as loading, is a different matter, and it still counts toward the 60-hour or 70-hour weekly limit. Also, your carrier may set stricter rules. If you are near the end of the window, plan a place to park before time runs out.
What can pause or extend the 14-hour window?
Three things are worth knowing. First, the split sleeper berth: a qualifying rest period of at least 2 hours, used in a valid split, is left out of the 14 hours (395.1(g)(1)(iii)). Second, the 16-hour exception lets a property driver skip the 14-hour limit once in a while if the driver returns to the work location and is released within 16 hours, and meets other conditions (395.1(o)). Third, adverse driving conditions that could not be known beforehand allow up to 2 more hours of driving (395.1(b)(1)). Some local drivers have different rules too.
Related Free Tools
Sleeper Berth Split Calculator
Check if two rest periods count as a sleeper berth split under the federal rule, and see how many hours you can still drive after the second one.
Hours of Service Trip Planner
Enter a trip and see when you can really arrive once the 11-hour, 14-hour and 30-minute break rules are counted.
Hours of Service (HOS) Tracker
Full 49 CFR Part 395 tracking. It covers the daily log, 14-hour window, 30-minute break, and the real 60/70-hour weekly rule with 34-hour restart detection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 14-hour rule in trucking?+
A property-carrying driver may not drive after 14 consecutive hours on duty. The 14 hours start when the driver comes on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)). Breaks and waiting time do not stop the clock.
Can a truck driver work more than 14 hours?+
A driver may not drive after the 14th hour. Other work is not barred by that rule, but it counts toward the weekly 60 or 70 hour limit, and your carrier may have stricter rules.
Does off-duty time pause the 14-hour clock?+
No, not by itself. The 14 hours run straight through. The exception is a valid split sleeper berth, where a qualifying rest period is left out of the 14 hours (49 CFR 395.1(g)(1)(iii)).
What is the 16-hour rule in trucking?+
It is an exception that lets a property-carrying driver skip the 14-hour limit once in a while. The driver must have returned to the normal work location and been released there for the last five duty tours, must return and be released within 16 hours this time, and must not have used it in the past 6 days (49 CFR 395.1(o)).
How many hours can you drive in a 14-hour window?+
Up to 11 hours of driving in total, with at least a 30-minute break once 8 hours of driving have passed without a break of that length (49 CFR 395.3(a)(3)).
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This is industry terminology and typical practice. It is not legal or tax advice. Rates, fees, and rules mentioned are general ranges. Confirm the details on your rate confirmation, carrier agreement, or a current official source.