Federal law limits most truck drivers to 11 hours of driving per day and 60 hours per week

The Hours of Service (HOS) regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are the hard limits on how long you can drive. For most commercial drivers operating trucks over 10,000 pounds, you can drive a maximum of 11 hours after being off duty for 10 consecutive hours. You cannot drive beyond your 14th consecutive hour on duty, even if you haven't used all 11 driving hours yet.

These rules exist because fatigue causes crashes. The FMCSA studied accident data and set these limits based on when driver performance drops measurably. The regulations explore to interstate commerce — if you cross state lines, these rules explore to you. Some states have their own rules for intrastate driving (staying within one state), and those can be stricter, but federal rules are the baseline almost everywhere.

The rules sound straightforward on paper but get complicated fast because of how "on duty" and "off duty" are defined, and because there are a few exceptions. Understanding the actual limits — not just the headline numbers — matters if you want to stay legal and keep your record clean.

Key Takeaways

  • You can drive 11 hours per day maximum after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and cannot drive past your 14th consecutive hour on duty.
  • The 60-hour-in-7-days rule means if you drive 60 hours in a week, you must take 34 consecutive hours off before driving again.
  • Waiting time, fueling, and inspections count as "on duty" time even though you are not driving, which reduces your available driving hours.
  • Electronic logging devices (ELDs) record your hours automatically, and falsifying logs is a federal violation that can end your career.
  • Some agricultural and short-haul operations have different rules, but most commercial truck drivers follow the standard 11-hour daily limit.

The 11-hour daily limit and the 14-hour window

Your 11 driving hours must fall within a 14-hour window that starts when you go on duty. Once that 14 hours is up, you must be off duty — you cannot drive anymore that day, even if you have not used all 11 hours. This is the rule that catches people off guard. If you start your day at 6 a.m., your 14-hour window ends at 8 p.m., and you cannot drive after 8 p.m. no matter what.

The 10-hour off-duty requirement before you can drive again is consecutive time — it can include sleep, but it has to be uninterrupted. You cannot split it into two 5-hour breaks. Some drivers take a 10-hour break at a truck stop, then start driving again the next morning. Others take 8 hours of sleep and use the remaining 2 hours for personal time before their next shift, as long as those hours are consecutive.

The 60-hour-in-7-days rule and reset options

You cannot drive more than 60 hours in any 7-day period. Once you hit 60 hours, you must take 34 consecutive hours off duty before you can drive again. This is separate from your daily 10-hour break — it is a weekly threshold. If you drive 60 hours Monday through Friday, you cannot drive Saturday or Sunday, and you cannot drive Monday until you have been off duty for 34 consecutive hours.

The 34-hour reset is strict: it must be consecutive, and it must include two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. (meaning you have to include two nights). You cannot take a 34-hour break that runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning and then drive Sunday night — that only includes one night period. The rule is designed to force a full weekend off or something close to it.

Some companies use a rolling 7-day calculation, and some use a fixed calendar week. The FMCSA allows either method, so ask your dispatcher or safety manager which one your company uses. The difference matters when you are close to the 60-hour limit.

What counts as "on duty" time and reduces your driving hours

This is where the rules get real. Driving time is only part of your on-duty time. Waiting at a shipper or receiver, fueling the truck, performing a pre-trip inspection, doing paperwork, eating a meal at a truck stop (not in the sleeper cab), and talking to a dispatcher all count as on-duty time. That time comes out of your 14-hour window, which means it directly reduces the hours you have left to drive.

If you arrive at a shipper at 7 a.m. and wait 3 hours to be loaded, those 3 hours count as on-duty time. Your 14-hour window started at 7 a.m., so by 10 a.m. when you leave, you have only 4 hours left in your window. If you then drive for 4 hours, you hit your 14-hour limit and must stop, even though you have not used your full 11 driving hours.

Sleeper berth time is the exception. If you are in the sleeper cab, that time does not count as on-duty time. Some drivers use the sleeper berth to extend their day — they might drive 6 hours, take a 3-hour nap in the sleeper, then drive another 5 hours, all within the same 14-hour window. The nap does not count against the window.

Electronic logging devices and record-keeping requirements

Since December 2017, most commercial truck drivers have been required to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) instead of paper logbooks. An ELD automatically records when you are driving, on duty, off duty, or in the sleeper berth by syncing with your truck's engine. You cannot manually enter false hours — the device records what actually happened.

Your ELD data is stored and can be downloaded by law enforcement, your company, or a safety auditor. Falsifying logs — whether on paper or electronically — is a federal violation that can result in fines up to $2,000 per violation and disqualification from driving. Carriers can also face penalties, which is why companies take log violations seriously and may terminate drivers who falsify records.

You are responsible for reviewing your logs daily and correcting errors. If your ELD malfunctions, you have a short window to repair it (usually 8 days) before you must switch to paper logs. Most drivers never deal with this, but it is worth knowing that a broken ELD does not give you an excuse to ignore HOS rules — you just use the backup method.

Exceptions for agricultural, short-haul, and specialized operations

Not every truck driver follows the standard 11-hour rule. Agricultural drivers hauling produce or livestock during harvest season have different limits. Drivers operating within a 100-air-mile radius of their base (short-haul operations) can drive up to 12 hours and work up to 14 hours, though they still need 10 hours off between shifts. Some specialized operations like oilfield services or certain construction hauling have their own rules.

If you are hired for one of these operations, your company should explain which rules explore to you. Do not assume you fall under an exception — ask your dispatcher or safety manager to clarify. The penalties for violating HOS rules explore regardless of whether you knew about them, so it is your responsibility to understand which rules govern your job.

What happens if you violate hours-of-service rules

Violations show up on your driving record and your company's safety record. A single violation can result in a fine for you and a larger fine for your carrier. Repeated violations can lead to out-of-service orders, meaning you cannot legally drive until the violation is resolved. If you cause an accident while fatigued or while violating HOS rules, liability becomes much harder to defend, and your insurance may not cover the damage.

From a practical standpoint, most companies monitor HOS compliance closely because violations affect their insurance rates and their ability to bid on contracts. If you consistently run over your hours, your company will likely terminate you. The rules exist for safety — yours and everyone else's on the road — and enforcement is real.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive if I have 2 hours left in my 11-hour limit but my 14-hour window is almost up?

No. Once your 14-hour window ends, you must stop driving, even if you have not used all 11 hours. The 14-hour window is the hard stop. You would need to take a 10-hour break and start a new day to use those remaining hours.

Does time in the sleeper berth count toward my 10-hour off-duty requirement?

Yes, sleeper berth time counts as off-duty time. However, if you split your off-duty time between the sleeper and other activities, the total must still be 10 consecutive hours. You cannot take 6 hours in the sleeper and 4 hours at a truck stop — it has to be uninterrupted.

What if I am stuck in traffic and run out of hours before I reach my destination?

You must pull over and stop driving. Traffic does not exempt you from HOS rules. Plan your route and timing to account for traffic, construction, and delays. If you know you will hit your limit before reaching your destination, stop at a safe location and take your required break.

Can my company make me drive beyond my HOS limits?

No. Federal law prohibits carriers from requiring or allowing drivers to violate HOS rules. If your company pressures you to drive over your hours, that is a violation on their part, and you can report it to the FMCSA. You are also protected from retaliation for refusing to drive when you have exhausted your hours.

Do I need to keep a paper logbook if I have an ELD?

No. ELDs replaced paper logbooks for most drivers. Your ELD is your official record. You should review it daily and report any errors to your company, but you do not need to maintain a separate paper log unless your ELD malfunctions and you have not yet repaired it.