Hours of Service (HOS): Complete Guide to FMCSA Rules and Limits

Updated: July 30, 2026 at 1:26 PM

Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are federal rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that limit how long commercial motor vehicle drivers can drive and work before taking required breaks and off-duty time. These regulations help reduce driver fatigue, improve highway safety, and protect truck drivers by ensuring they receive adequate time off duty between shifts.

Most property-carrying drivers operating in interstate commerce must follow federal Hours of Service regulations and use electronic logging devices (ELDs) that automatically record driving time and duty status. Understanding these HOS rules helps drivers stay compliant, avoid violations, and operate safely.

This guide explains the current FMCSA Hours of Service regulations, including driving limits, rest break requirements, the sleeper berth provision, weekly limits, common exceptions, and how to stay compliant.

What Are Hours of Service (HOS)?

Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are federal safety rules found in 49 CFR Part 395 that establish the maximum allowable working hours for commercial motor vehicle drivers. They determine how many hours drivers may spend driving, on duty, and off duty before taking required rest periods.

The current Hours of Service framework took effect through the FMCSA’s 2020 Final Rule, which updated the 30-minute break requirement, expanded the short-haul and adverse driving conditions exceptions, and revised the split sleeper berth provision.

Failure to comply with Hours of Service regulations can result in roadside citations, out-of-service orders, civil penalties, increased Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores, and FMCSA enforcement actions against both drivers and motor carriers.

Who Must Follow Hours of Service Regulations?

Most commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers operating in interstate commerce are subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Hours of Service regulations. These federal HOS regulations apply to both property-carrying drivers and passenger-carrying drivers, although each follows different driving and duty limits.

A vehicle is considered a commercial motor vehicle for Hours of Service purposes if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more, including any towed unit.
• Transports hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding under federal regulations.
• Is designed or used as a passenger-carrying vehicle that transports 16 or more passengers, including the driver, without compensation.
• Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers, including the driver, for compensation.

Many states have adopted similar intrastate regulations for drivers operating only within state lines. These intrastate regulations often mirror the federal HOS regulations but may include different exemptions or duty limits.

Some drivers and operations may qualify for exemptions or modified service regulations, including certain short-haul drivers, agricultural operations, and emergency response vehicles. These exceptions are discussed later in this guide.

Current Hours of Service Limits

Hours of Service regulations establish the maximum driving time, on-duty time, and required off-duty time for most property-carrying commercial motor vehicle drivers. These HOS limits work together to manage daily and weekly hours while reducing fatigue and improving driver safety.

11-Hour Driving Limit

After taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, property-carrying drivers may drive for a maximum of 11 hours. After reaching the 11-hour limit, drivers must complete another qualifying off-duty period before driving again.

The 11-hour limit applies only to driving time. These activities count as on-duty time instead:

• Fueling
• Vehicle inspections
• Loading and unloading
• Paperwork

14-Hour Rule

The 14-hour duty window begins when a driver comes on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Once it starts, the clock keeps running even if the driver stops for meals, fuel, loading, or other breaks. Only certain exceptions, such as the split sleeper berth provision, can pause the clock.

30-Minute Rest Break Requirement

Drivers may not drive after eight cumulative hours of driving time without first taking a qualifying 30-minute rest break.

The break may be satisfied by:

• Off-duty time
• Sleeper berth time
• On-duty, not driving time

60/70-Hour Weekly Limits

In addition to the daily driving limits, Hours of Service regulations establish weekly limits on total on-duty time.

A driver may not drive after accumulating:

• 60 hours of on-duty time in seven consecutive days, if the motor carrier does not operate vehicles every day of the week.
• 70 hours of on-duty time in eight consecutive days, if the motor carrier operates commercial vehicles every day of the week.

34-Hour Restart

Drivers who reach the 60-hour or 70-hour weekly limit may “restart” their available hours by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.

The restart is optional and resets the driver’s weekly Hours of Service calculation, allowing a new 60-hour or 70-hour duty cycle to begin.

Hours of Service Rule	Requirement
Maximum Driving Time	11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
Maximum Duty Window	14 consecutive hours
Required Rest Break	30 minutes after 8 cumulative hours of driving
Weekly Limit	60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days
Restart Option	34 consecutive hours off duty

Split Sleeper Berth Rule

The split sleeper berth provision allows qualifying property-carrying drivers to divide their required 10 hours off duty into two qualifying rest periods without losing available driving time.

The two approved split sleeper berth options are:

8/2 Split Sleeper Berth

Under the 8/2 split, a driver takes:

• At least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, and
• At least 2 consecutive hours either off duty, in the sleeper berth, or using a combination of the two.

7/3 Split Sleeper Berth

Under the 7/3 split, a driver takes:

• At least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, and
• At least 3 consecutive hours either off duty, in the sleeper berth, or using a combination of the two.

Both qualifying rest periods must total at least 10 hours. Once both periods are completed, neither period counts against the driver’s 14-hour duty window.

Hours of Service Exceptions

While most commercial drivers must follow the standard Hours of Service limits, the FMCSA provides several exceptions for specific industries and operating conditions. These exceptions provide additional flexibility, but drivers and motor carriers must still meet the eligibility requirements before using them.

150 Air-Mile Short-Haul Exception

The 150 air-mile short-haul exception allows certain property-carrying CDL drivers to operate without preparing a daily Record of Duty Status (RODS) if they meet all of the following requirements:

• Operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location.
• Return to the same work reporting location at the end of each duty period.
• Complete the workday within 14 consecutive hours.
• Receive at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before beginning the next shift.

Qualifying drivers usually do not need a daily RODS, but motor carriers must still keep accurate time records showing when drivers start work, finish work, and total hours worked.

150 Air-Mile Non-CDL Short-Haul Exception

Drivers who operate commercial motor vehicles that do not require a CDL may also qualify for a separate 150 air-mile exception.

To qualify, the driver must:

• Operate within 150 air miles of the normal work reporting location.
• Return to the same work reporting location each day.

In addition, the driver generally may not:

• Drive a vehicle that requires a CDL.
• Exceed 14 hours on duty more than five days during any seven consecutive-day period.
• Exceed 16 hours on duty more than two days during any seven consecutive-day period.

16-Hour Short-Haul Exception

The 16-hour short-haul exception allows certain property-carrying drivers to extend their normal 14-hour duty window to 16 hours once every seven consecutive days without violating the Hours of Service regulations.

To qualify for this exception, a driver must:

• Return to the same normal work reporting location at the end of the workday.
• Have returned to the same work reporting location for the previous five duty tours.
• Be released from duty at the same work reporting location after the extended shift.
• Use the exception no more than once during any seven consecutive-day period, unless the driver has completed a 34-hour restart.

It’s important to understand that the 16-hour short-haul exception does not increase the 11-hour driving limit. Drivers may still drive a maximum of 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. The exception only extends the amount of time available to complete the workday by increasing the duty window from 14 hours to 16 hours.

Adverse Driving Conditions Exception

Unexpected weather, crashes, road closures, or similar events may qualify as adverse driving conditions if they could not reasonably have been known before the trip began.

Drivers operating under the adverse driving conditions exception may extend both their maximum driving time and 14-hour duty window by up to two hours.

The exception does not apply to normal traffic congestion or predictable weather. Drivers should document the reason in their ELD or driver’s log whenever they use this exception.

Common Hours of Service Violations and Penalties

Hours of Service regulations are enforced through roadside inspections, compliance reviews, safety audits, and electronic logging device (ELD) records. Drivers and motor carriers that fail to comply with federal HOS regulations may face civil penalties, out-of-service orders, and increased safety risks.

Common Hours of Service Violations:

• Driving more than 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• Driving after the 14-hour duty window has expired.
• Failing to take the required 30-minute rest break after eight cumulative hours of driving time.
• Exceeding the 60-hour or 70-hour weekly limits.
• Failing to accurately record duty status or falsifying a driver’s log.
• Operating without a required electronic logging device when no exemption applies.

Motor carriers may also receive citations, increased Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores, and higher insurance costs. Depending on the violation, drivers may face federal civil penalties ranging from approximately $1,100 to more than $16,000, while motor carriers may face penalties ranging from roughly $1,000 to $11,000. Repeated or willful violations can result in additional enforcement action.

How to Avoid HOS Violations

• Monitor available hours throughout the day.
• Plan routes realistically.
• Keep accurate duty status records.
• Understand exceptions before using them.

Tip: Running out of available driving hours is not a violation by itself. A violation occurs when a driver continues operating after exceeding an applicable Hours of Service limit or fails to accurately record their duty status.

Understanding HOS Duty Statuses

Every commercial driver subject to Hours of Service regulations must accurately record one of four duty statuses throughout the workday. Whether using an electronic logging device (ELD) or paper Record of Duty Status (RODS), these categories determine how driving and on-duty limits are calculated.

Off Duty

Off-duty time is any period when a driver is completely relieved of all work responsibilities and is free to use the time as they choose.

Examples of off-duty time include:

• Eating meals.
• Relaxing at a hotel or home.
• Personal errands.
• Time spent away from all work responsibilities.

Sleeper Berth

Sleeper berth time is a specific type of off-duty time spent resting in a qualifying sleeper berth installed in the commercial motor vehicle.

This time may satisfy the required off-duty periods needed for the 10-hour break and can also be used under the split sleeper berth provision when the qualifying requirements are met.

Driving

Driving status begins whenever a commercial motor vehicle is operating on a roadway in the course of employment.

This time counts toward the driver’s:

• 11-hour driving limit.
• 14-hour duty window.
• 30-minute rest break requirement.

On Duty (Not Driving)

On-duty, not driving includes all work performed for a motor carrier other than operating the vehicle.

Common examples include:

• Vehicle inspections.
• Fueling.
• Loading or unloading freight.
• Completing paperwork.
• Waiting at shipping or receiving facilities.
• Performing maintenance.
• Any other work performed for a motor carrier.

Although this time does not count toward the 11-hour driving limit, it does count toward the driver’s 14-hour duty window and 60-hour or 70-hour weekly limits.

Why Accurate Duty Status Records Matter

Accurate duty status records help enforcement officers verify Hours of Service compliance during roadside inspections and safety audits. Electronic logging devices simplify this process by automatically recording driving time while allowing drivers to update the rest of their duty statuses.

Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and Hours of Service Compliance

For most interstate motor carriers and commercial drivers, electronic logging devices (ELDs) are the primary tool used to track Hours of Service compliance. The FMCSA’s ELD mandate became fully effective in December 2017, requiring most drivers who must maintain Records of Duty Status (RODS) to use an FMCSA-registered ELD instead of paper logbooks.

By automatically recording driving time, ELDs reduce paperwork, make roadside inspections more efficient, and help reduce log falsification compared with traditional paper records. They also allow drivers and motor carriers to identify potential Hours of Service violations before they become costly compliance issues.

ELDs help:

• Record hours automatically
• Reduce paperwork
• Improve HOS compliance
• Speed roadside inspections

Although most interstate commercial drivers are required to use electronic logging devices, certain drivers may qualify for an exemption. Examples include some short-haul drivers, drivers operating under the driveaway-towaway exemption, and drivers who are only required to maintain Records of Duty Status for eight days or fewer during any rolling 30-day period.

If you’d like to learn more about how ELDs work, who must use them, available exemptions, and how to remain compliant, read our Complete Guide to Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).

Hours of Service Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles:

• FMCSA denies Veteran Driver Exemption From HOS Rules
• FMCSA Rejects HOS Exemption For Livestock Haulers
• FMCSA Cancels Emergency Hours Of Service (HOS) Waiver
• FMCSA Guidance for New Owners-Operators (2026)