Hours of service regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 395 cap driving and on-duty time. For property-carrying drivers the core limits are 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window after 10 consecutive hours off, a required 30-minute break after 8 cumulative driving hours, and weekly limits of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days.
Drivers must record duty status, and since December 2019 most must use electronic logging devices rather than paper logs.
Alternative Names:
HOS, Hours of Service Rules, Driving Time Limits
Why it Matters?
Fatigue is the most common theory in serious trucking cases, and hours of service records are the proof. Log violations support both driver negligence and a direct negligence claim against the carrier for permitting or encouraging the violation, and dispatch records showing scheduling that made compliance impossible are what drive punitive exposure.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the basic hours of service limits?
How are hours of service violations proven?
