What Is 34-Hour Restart in Trucking?
Also called: 34 Hour Reset, 34-Hour Reset, 34 Hour Restart
A 34-hour restart is an off-duty break of 34 or more consecutive hours that lets a driver start a new 7 or 8 day period. It resets the weekly on-duty limit of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. The restart is optional. A driver uses it when the weekly hours are running low.
Last reviewed September 23, 2026 · Facts checked October 17, 2026
Key Points
- Any period of 7 consecutive days may end with the beginning of an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours (49 CFR 395.3(c)(1))
- Any period of 8 consecutive days may end the same way (395.3(c)(2))
- The weekly limits are 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days if the carrier operates every day (395.3(b))
- The rule says a period "may" end with a 34-hour break. A driver is not required to take one
- The federal limit is 34 hours. There is no 36-hour federal reset
- The text of the rule has no limit on how often a driver can use a restart. Your carrier may have its own policy
What is a 34-hour reset?
It is a long break that clears the weekly clock. The weekly limit is 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days (49 CFR 395.3(b)). After an off-duty period of at least 34 consecutive hours, a new 7 or 8 day period begins (395.3(c)). The hours worked before the break no longer count toward the new period.
Is the 34-hour restart mandatory?
No. The rule says a period may end with the start of a 34-hour break. It does not require one. Many drivers use it when they are close to the weekly limit and need to start fresh. If you have hours left, you can keep driving within the other limits.
Is it a 34-hour or 36-hour reset?
The federal rule says 34 consecutive hours. There is no 36-hour reset in the federal rule. The limit for property drivers is 34 consecutive hours (49 CFR 395.3(c)).
Does a 34-hour restart reset the 11-hour and 14-hour limits too?
A 34-hour break covers the 10 consecutive hours off duty needed to begin a new driving day, so you can start a new 11-hour driving period and a new 14-hour window after it (395.3(a)(1)). The two limits work separately. The 34-hour restart is about the weekly limit. The 10 hours off is about the daily limits.
Related Free Tools
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.
Home Time Planner
Plan your route home, see the revenue impact, and figure your home time percentage.
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 a 34-hour reset for truck drivers?+
It is an off-duty break of at least 34 consecutive hours. It lets a driver start a new 7 or 8 day period, which resets the weekly limit of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days (49 CFR 395.3(b) and (c)).
Is a 34-hour reset mandatory?+
No. The rule says a period may end with a break of 34 or more consecutive hours. A driver who has weekly hours left does not need one.
Is it a 34 or 36 hour reset?+
The federal rule for property-carrying drivers says 34 consecutive hours (49 CFR 395.3(c)).
How many 34-hour resets can you take in a week?+
The text of 49 CFR 395.3(c) does not limit how often a driver may use a restart. Your carrier may have its own policy, so ask.
Does the 34-hour reset restart the 14-hour clock?+
A 34-hour break includes at least 10 consecutive hours off duty, which is what starts a new 14-hour window and a new 11-hour driving limit (49 CFR 395.3(a)).
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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.