Truck Driver Hours

Truck Driver Hours of Service

You want your fleet to be at optimum performance when driving and making deliveries. As such, you need to manage your fleet the right way while following regulations when it comes to DOT hours of service (HOS). Read our brief look at truck driver hours of service from International Used Truck Center so you can be in the know about this crucial piece of information from our team near

How Many Hours Can a Truck Driver Drive?

According to DOT hours of service (HOS) regulations, a truck driver can drive 11 hours before taking a required 10-hour break. Every driver must log driving time and follow several other DOT hours of service rules in and beyond.

Logging Truck Driver Hours of Service

Whether you drive a Freightliner, International, or Kenworth, most trucks automatically log driving time with their on-board technology. However, it’s up to the driver to keep track of non-driving time. It’s also smart to keep a paper logbook of your driving time as a backup in case the technology malfunctions or has a glitch. Driving and non-driving time must be logged under the following categories:

• Off Duty — Not required to work or be ready to work. Examples include time spent at meal stops, time spent at home, or truck stop breaks.
• Sleeper Berth — Hours spent resting in the sleeper berth.
• Driving — Time spent at the controls of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in operation, whether driving or sitting in traffic.
• On Duty Not Driving — Time spent performing any non-driving work directed by the trucking company, such as physically loading and unloading, inspections, training, and refueling.

What Are DOT Hours of Service?

This refers to the regulations set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that limit the amount of time a commercial vehicle driver or semi-truck driver can be on duty. Truck driver hours of service include driving time and non-driving time when someone is on duty in and beyond.

DOT regulations also specify the required rest periods to ensure drivers get enough rest and are alert enough to drive an 80,000-pound, 53-foot-long load moving at 70 mph. Maintaining motorist safety is essential when following truck driver hours of service rules, which define the maximum number of hours a driver can be behind the wheel within a specific timeframe, including mandatory breaks and off-duty periods.

DOT Hours of Service Rules and Exceptions

How many hours a day can a truck driver drive legally? Truck driver hours of service rules from the DOT set how many hours a truck driver can drive in a given time period. Developed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, HOS rules are essentially labor regulations to protect truck drivers from overwork, which protects motorists, the trucking industry, and people’s lives. Rules and exceptions for truck driver hours are summarized here:

Truck Driver Hours of Service Rules

• 11-Hour Rule — How many hours a day a truck driver can drive. This rule sets the maximum at no more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
• 14-Hour Rule — After coming on duty, a driver may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour, and cannot resume driving without taking a 10-hour break. An example of this would be a driver loading the truck and refueling it for 3.5 hours. When the 14th hour hits, even though the driver has only driven 10.5 hours, the driver must stop and have a break for 10 hours.
• 30-Minute Break Rule — A driver is required to take one 30-minute break every eight hours of driving time.
• 70-Hour Rule — A driver may not drive more than 70 hours in any eight consecutive days. He/she may (but isn’t required to) reset the 70-hour clock by taking a 34-hour rest period.
• 10-Hour Break — Defined as 10 consecutive hours in an off-duty status, this break may be off-duty time, spent in the sleeper berth, or a combination of both.
• 7 and 3 Split/Split Sleeper Rule — Some carriers allow drivers to split a 10-hour break into 2 segments: one no shorter than 7 hours and another of at least 3 hours. However, other carriers discourage or don’t allow the 1-3 split because it may interfere with healthy sleep patterns.

Truck Driver Hours of Service Exceptions

• Truck driver hours don’t need to be logged when the truck is used for personal transportation.
• Time spent driving in a limited-access lot or yard can be logged as on-duty, rather than driving hours.
• Drivers who consistently operate within a 150-air-mile radius and report 14 hours or less of driving can report hours on a daily basis.
• Drivers may extend maximum driving and the maximum workday limit by up to two hours in certain adverse weather conditions.
• Drivers may complete runs under federal or state emergency declarations.

Learn More About Truck Driver Hours of Service and HOS Rules

If you’re considering a career as a driver, you may want to learn more about how many hours a day a truck driver can drive. While the details may vary depending on the carrier you work for, most drivers must adhere to DOT hours of service rules. Contact us today or visit us in to learn more.