Truck driving regulations

Truck drivers work long hours on the road. To help ensure drivers get time to rest and reset, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has hours of service rules. Let’s take a closer look at these requirements and review how important data is tracked.

The FMCSA has specific hours of service rules regarding on-duty and off-duty time.

Property-carrying drivers transport goods for business purposes. This includes commercial vehicles like semis, tanker trucks, and delivery vans. Regulations for these drivers include, but aren’t limited to:

• 11-hour limit: Drivers may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

• 14-hour limit: Driversare allowed to beon duty for 14 hours before needing a 10-hour off-duty break. The 11-hour driving limit mentioned above occurs within this window of time, while the remaining hours are typically used for paperwork, loading/unloading, or vehicle inspections.

• 30-minute break: Drivers are required to take a 30 minute break prior to completing eight hours on duty if they want to continue to drive a commercial motor vehicle—in most situations.

• 60/70-hour limit: Drivers can either use a rolling 60- or 70-hour limit and wipe the slate clean after taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty to utilize the restart provision.

Passenger-carrying drivers transport people using vehicles like buses or passenger vans. Regulations for these drivers include, but aren’t limited to:

• 10-hour limit: Drivers may drive up to 10 hours after eight consecutive off-duty hours.

• 15-hour limit: Drivers can’t operate a vehicle once they’ve been on duty for 15 hours, following eight consecutive off-duty hours.Off-duty time isn’t included in this 15-hour period.

• 60/70-hour limit: Drivers can’t operate a vehicle if they’ve already reached 60 on-duty hours over seven consecutive days, or 70 on-duty hours over eight consecutive days.

Visit the FMCSA website for the full summary of the hours of service rules, including the short-haul exemption and sleeper berth rule.

For most truck drivers, manual log books have been replaced by electronic logging devices (ELDs). These on-board devices track engine hours, miles driven, and more data to help ensure drivers follows hours of service rules and they get the rest they need.

Visit the FMSCA website for more information on ELD rules and exemptions.

Rules and regulations for intrastate drivers—those who stay within the borders of one state—vary by state, and often differ compared to interstate driver rules.

For example, intrastate drivers in California have different hours of service rules, such as:

• 12-hour limit: Drivers may drive up to 12 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty

• 16-hour limit: Driversare allowed to beon duty for 16 hours before needing a 10-hour off-duty break

• 80-hour limit: Drivers can’t operate a vehicle if they’ve already reached 80 on-duty hours over eight consecutive days