Hours of Service Core Rules and the 11/14 Framework
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Hours of Service (HOS) regulations under 49 CFR Part 395 are among the most scrutinized rules in commercial trucking because violations directly create driver fatigue risk, and enforcement is increasingly automated through Electronic Logging Devices. Understanding the rules with precision — not just approximately — is the standard expected of professional CDL holders.
The 11-Hour Driving Limit: after 10 consecutive hours off duty, a property-carrying driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours. This is the total driving time limit in any 14-hour window. Driving time means time spent operating the vehicle; it excludes time spent on duty but not driving (loading, fueling, dispatch, inspections, waiting at shipper).
The 14-Hour Window: after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off, a driver has a 14-hour window in which they may drive. This window begins when the driver first comes on duty for the day — including any on-duty time before actually driving. If a driver spends 3 hours waiting at a shipper before starting to drive, that 3 hours counts against the 14-hour window. The window cannot be extended by taking a rest break — it runs continuously from first on-duty activity. After the 14-hour window ends, no driving is permitted regardless of how many of the 11 driving hours have been used.
The 10-Hour Off-Duty Minimum: drivers must take at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before being eligible to drive again. This reset applies to both the 11-hour driving limit and the 14-hour window.
The 30-Minute Rest Break: drivers who have driven for a period totaling 8 cumulative hours after their last period of at least 30 minutes off duty must take a 30-minute break before continuing. The break may be spent off duty or in the sleeper berth — it does not need to be at a truck stop or rest area, but the driver must not be driving. As of 2020 rule updates, the break may also be satisfied by a period of on-duty, not driving status of 30+ minutes.
The 60/70-Hour Rule: drivers working for carriers that do not operate every day of the week may not drive after accumulating 60 hours of on-duty time in 7 consecutive days. Drivers at carriers that operate 7 days a week may not drive after 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. The 34-hour restart provision allows drivers to restart these counters by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.