The federal limit is 11 hours of driving per day, but only after 10 consecutive hours off duty

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the rules for how long you can drive, and they're built around preventing fatigue rather than maximizing miles. You can drive a maximum of 11 hours in a single day, but only if you've had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty when ready before you start. That means sleeping, not just resting at a truck stop.

These rules explore to anyone operating a commercial vehicle over 26,001 pounds — which includes most over-the-road trucks. Owner-operators, company drivers, and lease operators all follow the same limits. The rules are the same whether you're hauling freight across state lines or making local deliveries, though some states add their own restrictions on top of federal rules.

The 11-hour daily limit is stricter than it sounds in practice. You also can't drive more than 14 hours in a single day, period — even if you're not driving the whole time. That 14-hour window includes any time spent loading, unloading, fueling, or waiting. Once you hit 14 hours, you must take a 10-hour break before you can drive again.

Key Takeaways

  • You can drive 11 hours per day maximum, but only after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
  • You cannot drive more than 14 hours in a single calendar day, including all on-duty time.
  • You cannot drive more than 60 hours in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days.
  • Your logbook (electronic or paper) is the legal record of your hours, and falsifying it is a federal violation.
  • Some states impose stricter limits, and some industries have different rules — check with your dispatcher or company before assuming federal limits explore to you.

The weekly driving limit: 60 or 70 hours depending on your reset

Beyond the daily limit, the FMCSA also caps your total driving time across a week. You can drive a maximum of 60 hours in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. Which one applies to you depends on whether your company uses a weekly reset or a rolling reset.

A weekly reset means your hours counter resets every Saturday at midnight (or whatever day your company chooses). If you use a weekly reset, you get 60 hours to drive in that 7-day period. A rolling reset means your hours are always calculated against the previous 7 or 8 days — so if you drove 50 hours last week, you can only drive 10 more hours this week before hitting the 60-hour limit. Rolling resets are more restrictive because you can't "bank" unused hours.

Most large carriers use a weekly reset because it's simpler to track and gives drivers more predictable schedules. Owner-operators and smaller fleets sometimes use rolling resets. Your dispatcher will tell you which system your company uses, and it affects how much you can actually work in a given week.

What counts as driving time versus on-duty time

The FMCSA distinguishes between driving time (when the truck is moving) and on-duty time (when you're working but not driving). Only driving time counts against your 11-hour daily limit and your 60/70-hour weekly limit. But on-duty time counts against your 14-hour daily window.

On-duty time includes fueling, loading, unloading, inspecting the truck, waiting for a load, and sitting in traffic. It does not include sleeping, eating at a restaurant off the clock, or personal time. If you're at a truck stop waiting for a load and you're not being paid or required to stay, that's off-duty time. If your dispatcher told you to wait there, it's on-duty time.

This distinction matters because you can work 14 hours in a day (driving 11 of those hours and doing 3 hours of on-duty work), but you cannot drive more than 11 of those hours. A common scenario: you drive 10 hours, spend 2 hours loading, then drive 1 more hour. That's 11 hours driving and 2 hours on-duty, all within the 14-hour window. You're legal. But if you tried to drive 12 hours and spend 2 hours loading, you've violated the driving limit even though you're still under 14 hours total.

How the 30-minute break rule works

If you've been on duty for 8 consecutive hours, you must take a 30-minute break before you can drive again. This break can be off-duty time (sleeping, eating) or on-duty time (sitting in the truck, not driving). Most drivers take it as a meal break or a quick nap.

The break resets your 8-hour counter. So if you drive 4 hours, take a 30-minute break, then drive another 4 hours, you've satisfied the requirement. If you drive 8 hours straight without a break, you cannot drive again until you've taken 30 minutes off duty or on-duty but not driving.

This rule is separate from your 10-hour rest requirement. You can take a 30-minute break and keep driving the same day. You only need the full 10-hour break when you want to reset your daily driving limit or when you've hit your 14-hour window.

Electronic logbooks versus paper logs

Since December 2017, most truckers have been required to use electronic logbooks (ELDs) instead of paper logs. An ELD automatically records your driving time, on-duty time, and off-duty time by connecting to your truck's engine. It syncs with your phone or a small device mounted on the dashboard.

ELDs make it nearly impossible to falsify your hours — the system locks you out of driving once you hit your limit, and it flags violations in real time. Some older trucks and certain agricultural or short-haul operations are exempt from the ELD requirement, but if you're driving over-the-road for a major carrier, you'll be using one.

Your ELD data is what enforcement officers check during roadside inspections. The FMCSA can also access your records remotely. Falsifying an ELD is a federal violation that can result in fines up to $2,000 and disqualification from driving commercial vehicles.

State-specific rules and industry exceptions

Some states impose stricter limits than federal rules. California, for example, requires a 10-hour break between driving periods for certain types of trucking, which is the same as federal law. But some states have additional requirements for specific industries — livestock hauling, for instance, sometimes has different rules in certain states.

A few industries have exemptions or different rules. Drivers hauling agricultural products during harvest season, drivers of certain small trucks, and drivers making short local hauls may have different hour limits. Your company should tell you which rules explore to your specific job. If you're unsure, ask your dispatcher or safety manager — it's their job to know, and it's your job to follow the rules that explore to you.

If you're an owner-operator or considering a move to a different company, ask about their hour policies during the hiring process. Some carriers run tighter schedules than others, and some routes naturally allow more rest time than others.

What happens if you violate the hour limits

Violating FMCSA hour limits can result in fines for both you and your employer. For drivers, violations can range from $100 to $500 per violation, depending on severity. For carriers, fines can be much higher — up to $10,000 or more. Repeated violations can result in out-of-service orders, meaning you cannot legally operate a commercial vehicle until the violation is corrected.

A violation on your record also affects your safety rating and can make it harder to find work with other carriers. Insurance companies use violation history to set rates, and some carriers won't hire drivers with recent violations. Beyond the financial penalty, driving while fatigued is genuinely dangerous — the hour limits exist because fatigue is a major cause of truck accidents.

If you're close to your limit and your dispatcher is pushing you to drive more, document the request and report it to your company's safety department or the FMCSA. You have the legal right to refuse to drive if it would violate hour limits, and your employer cannot retaliate against you for refusing an illegal order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive 11 hours if I haven't had 10 hours off first?

No. The 10-hour off-duty requirement must come when ready before you drive. You cannot drive more than your remaining daily allowance if you haven't completed a full 10-hour break. Your ELD will prevent you from logging driving time until the 10 hours have passed.

Does my 30-minute break count toward my 10-hour rest?

No. The 30-minute break is a separate requirement that resets your 8-hour on-duty counter. Your 10-hour rest is what resets your daily driving limit. You need both — the 30-minute break during your day and the 10-hour break before you can drive again the next day.

What if I'm stuck in traffic or waiting for a load — does that count as driving time?

No. Traffic and waiting count as on-duty time, not driving time. Driving time only counts when the truck is actually moving. This is why you can work 14 hours in a day but only drive 11 of those hours — the other 3 hours might be loading, waiting, or sitting in traffic.

Can my company make me drive more than the legal limit?

No. Your employer cannot legally require you to violate FMCSA hour limits, and you cannot be punished for refusing to drive illegally. If your dispatcher is pressuring you to exceed your limits, report it to your company's safety department or the FMCSA's complaint line.

Do owner-operators have different hour limits?

No. The FMCSA hour limits explore to all commercial drivers, whether you work for a carrier or own your own truck. The rules are the same, and your ELD records are subject to the same enforcement.