Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers
A property-carrying truck driver may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, after 10 hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3). A 30-minute break is needed after 8 hours of driving. The weekly limit is 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. A 34-hour break ends the weekly period. Short-haul, sleeper berth and bad weather rules change these limits.
Facts checked October 15, 2026
Key Points
- Drivers of property-carrying commercial vehicles follow Part 395. A commercial vehicle is one rated 10,001 pounds or more that works in interstate commerce, so many box trucks count
- A driver may drive 11 hours inside a 14-hour window, and only after 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3)
- No driving after 8 hours of driving without a 30-minute break. Off-duty, sleeper berth and on-duty not driving time all count as the break
- The weekly limit is 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days if the carrier runs every day
- A break of 34 or more hours off duty can end the weekly period. There is no limit on how often you can use it
- Short-haul drivers can skip the log and the 30-minute break. Bad weather can add up to 2 hours of driving
- FMCSA's flexible sleeper berth and split-duty pilot programs are not in effect yet. FMCSA plans to open them in 2027
Hours of service limits for property-carrying drivers
| What the rule says | |
|---|---|
| Off duty before driving | 10 consecutive hours off duty before a driver may drive (49 CFR 395.3(a)(1)) |
| Driving time | 11 hours of driving inside the 14-hour period (395.3(a)(3)(i)) |
| 14-hour period | No driving after 14 consecutive hours from coming on duty, following 10 hours off (395.3(a)(2)) |
| 30-minute break | No driving after 8 hours of driving without a 30-minute break. Off duty, sleeper berth and on-duty not driving time all count (395.3(a)(3)(ii)) |
| Weekly limit | 60 hours on duty in 7 days if the carrier does not run every day. 70 hours in 8 days if it does (395.3(b)) |
| Restart | A period of 34 or more hours off duty can end the 7-day or 8-day period (395.3(c)) |
Who has to follow the hours of service rules?
Part 395 covers drivers of property-carrying commercial motor vehicles (49 CFR 395.3). A commercial motor vehicle that works in interstate commerce is one rated 10,001 pounds or more, among other cases (49 CFR 390.5). That includes many box trucks and hotshot rigs, not only tractor-trailers. Passenger carriers have their own limits in 395.5. Some drivers qualify for an exception, such as short-haul. The rules also count more than driving. On-duty time includes waiting at a shipper or carrier facility to be dispatched, unless the carrier has relieved you from duty (49 CFR 395.2).
How does the 14-hour window work?
The window starts when the driver comes on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty. The driver cannot drive after 14 consecutive hours from that point (49 CFR 395.3(a)(2)). Off-duty time during the day does not stop the clock. Two things can change it. A sleeper berth split excludes the qualifying rest periods from the 14 hours (49 CFR 395.1(g)(1)(iii)). And adverse driving conditions can add up to 2 hours. Within the window, the driver may drive a total of 11 hours.
How does the 30-minute break work?
A driver may not drive if more than 8 hours of driving time have passed without a break of at least 30 consecutive minutes (49 CFR 395.3(a)(3)(ii)). The break does not have to be off duty. It can be off-duty time, sleeper berth time, on-duty not driving time, or a mix of them. So fueling or loading can count as the break, as long as the driver is not driving. Drivers who use either short-haul exception are exempt from the break rule.
How do the 60-hour and 70-hour limits and the 34-hour restart work?
A driver may not drive after being on duty 60 hours in any 7 consecutive days, if the employing carrier does not run vehicles every day of the week. A driver may not drive after 70 hours in any 8 consecutive days, if the carrier does run every day (49 CFR 395.3(b)). A break of 34 or more consecutive hours off duty can end the 7-day or 8-day period, so the count starts again (395.3(c)). The rule sets no limit on how often you can use it. Example: a driver on the 70-hour rule who has worked 68 hours in the last 8 days has 2 hours of on-duty time left. After a 34-hour break the count starts over.
How does the sleeper berth split work?
A driver with a sleeper berth can reach the 10 hours off duty in two periods instead of one (49 CFR 395.1(g)(1)(ii)). Neither period can be shorter than 2 consecutive hours. One must be at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth. Together they must total at least 10 hours. The usual splits are 7 and 3, or 8 and 2. The driving before and after each rest period, added together, cannot go over 11 hours or break the 14-hour limit. The qualifying rest periods are left out when the 14 hours are counted. Seven hours in the sleeper berth plus up to 3 hours riding in the passenger seat while the truck moves also counts as 10 hours (395.1(g)(1)(i)).
What are the short-haul exceptions?
A CDL driver who stays within 150 air miles of the work reporting location, returns and is released within 14 consecutive hours, and has 10 hours off between shifts is exempt from keeping logs (49 CFR 395.1(e)(1)). That driver is also exempt from the 30-minute break. A driver of a truck that does not need a CDL can use a similar exception. The driver stays within 150 air miles and returns each day. The driving window is 14 hours on 5 days of any 7, and 16 hours on the other 2 days (395.1(e)(2)). The carrier must keep time records for 6 months. A property-carrying driver who returns to the reporting location every day can also use a 16-hour day about once a week. It cannot be used again within the next 6 days, unless a 34-hour break started a new period (395.1(o)).
What happens in bad weather or an emergency?
A driver who hits adverse driving conditions and cannot safely finish the run within the normal limits may drive up to 2 additional hours to finish or reach a safe place (49 CFR 395.1(b)(1)). Adverse driving conditions are snow, ice, sleet, fog or unusual road or traffic conditions that were not known, and could not reasonably be known, to the driver before the duty day began or to the carrier before dispatch (49 CFR 395.2). In a real emergency, a driver may finish the run if it could reasonably have been finished without the emergency (395.1(b)(2)). The weekly limits still apply.
Are the hours of service rules changing?
Not yet. In September 2025 FMCSA launched two pilot programs. The Flexible Sleeper Berth pilot would let drivers split their off-duty time into two periods in any combination, if the periods total at least 10 hours and one has at least 5 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth. The Split Duty Period pilot would let drivers pause the 14-hour window for up to 3 hours a day in qualifying non-driving time. FMCSA finished small pre-tests with nine drivers each in 2026. In an August 27, 2026 bulletin, FMCSA said it plans to open each pilot to 256 drivers in 2027. Until you are in a pilot, the rules above apply.
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.
Truck Parking Finder
Find truck stops and rest areas near you or near a city, nearest first, so you know where you can stop before your clock runs out.
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.
CDL & Compliance Deadline Tracker
Track all compliance deadlines in one place with color-coded alerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 11-hour rule for truck drivers?+
A driver may drive a total of 11 hours, inside the 14-hour period that starts when the driver comes on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)). The 11 hours are driving time only. Other on-duty work does not count toward the 11, but it does use up the 14-hour window.
What is the 14-hour rule?+
A driver may not drive after 14 consecutive hours from coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)(2)). Time spent waiting, loading or resting during the day does not pause it, except for a qualifying sleeper berth split.
What is the difference between the 60-hour and 70-hour rule?+
They are the same kind of limit with different lengths. The 60-hour limit over 7 consecutive days applies if the carrier does not run vehicles every day of the week. The 70-hour limit over 8 consecutive days applies if it does (49 CFR 395.3(b)). Most over-the-road carriers run every day, so most drivers use the 70-hour rule.
Does the 34-hour restart have a once-a-week limit?+
No. The current rule says any 7-day or 8-day period may end with the start of 34 or more consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(c)). It sets no limit on how often you can use it.
Can I split my 10 hours off duty in the sleeper berth?+
Yes, with a sleeper berth. Use two periods, neither shorter than 2 hours. One must be at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, and together they must total at least 10 hours (49 CFR 395.1(g)(1)(ii)). The usual splits are 7 and 3, or 8 and 2.
Does waiting at a shipper count as on-duty time?+
Yes, unless the carrier has relieved you from duty. On-duty time includes all time at a shipper or carrier facility waiting to be dispatched (49 CFR 395.2). It is not driving time, but it uses up your 14-hour window and counts toward your weekly limit. Log the arrival and departure times.
Do box truck drivers have to follow hours of service?+
If the truck is rated 10,001 pounds or more and works in interstate commerce, yes (49 CFR 390.5 and 395.3). A driver who does not need a CDL can use the short-haul exception in 395.1(e)(2). The driver stays within 150 air miles, returns each day, and has a 14-hour window on 5 days of any 7 and a 16-hour window on the other 2. That exception also removes the log requirement.
More federal trucking rules
- ELD Mandate: Who Needs an ELD
- DOT Roadside Inspection Levels Explained
- DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules
- Driver Qualification File Requirements
- DVIR and Vehicle Maintenance Rules
- New Entrant Safety Audit Requirements
- Hours of Service Exceptions and Exemptions
- Motor Carrier Insurance Requirements
- CDL Classes, Endorsements and ELDT Training
- DOT Physical and Medical Card Requirements
- Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Requirements
- Cargo Securement Rules for Trucks
- Hazmat Basics for Truck Drivers and Carriers
- USDOT Number and Biennial Update Requirements
- Safety Ratings, Compliance Reviews and DataQs
- Federal Truck Size and Weight Limits
- California Clean Truck Check (HD I/M)
- Truth-in-Leasing Rules for Owner-Operators
- Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax
- Truck Driver Phone, Texting and Seat Belt Rules
- Railroad Crossing Rules for Truck Drivers
- Truck Emergency Equipment and Warning Triangle Rules
- Truck Windshield, Dash Cam and Mirror Rules
- CDL Disqualification: Major and Serious Offenses
- Truck Tire Rules: Tread Depth, Retreads and Pressure
- Trailer Reflective Tape (Conspicuity) Rules
- Truck Brake Rules: Pushrod Stroke, Lining Thickness and ABS
- Driver Conduct Rules: Alcohol, Drugs, Fatigue, Passengers and Pre-Trip Checks
- English Language Proficiency for Truck Drivers: The 391.11(b)(2) Rule
- Weigh Station Rules: Who Must Stop and What Happens If You Skip
- Truck Lighting Rules: Required Lamps and Reflectors (49 CFR 393)
- Driver Road Test Rules: The Company Road Test and Certificate (49 CFR 391.31)
- Box Truck and Hotshot Requirements: CDL, USDOT Number, Authority and ELD
- Owner-Operator Requirements: What You Need Before You Haul
Related terms and pages
Sources
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This is a plain-language summary for reference, not legal advice. Check the official rule text before you rely on any detail. Ask a compliance professional about your own operation.