Hours of Service (HOS) Rules Explained: 2026 Complete Guide

Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are among the most important — and most frequently violated — FMCSA rules. They exist to prevent fatigued driving, which is a leading cause of commercial vehicle accidents. Understanding these rules is critical for both drivers and carriers.

The Four Duty Statuses

Under HOS rules, a driver's time is recorded in four categories:

• Off Duty — Free from all work responsibilities. Time to rest and recover.
• Sleeper Berth — Resting in the vehicle's sleeper berth compartment.
• Driving — Operating the CMV on a public road.
• On Duty (Not Driving) — Working but not driving: loading, fueling, inspections, paperwork.

Key HOS Rules for Property-Carrying Drivers

11-Hour Driving Limit

A driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Once 11 hours of driving time are used, driving must stop until another 10 consecutive hours off duty are taken.

14-Hour Duty Window

A driver may not drive after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, regardless of breaks taken during that time. The 14-hour clock starts when you go on duty and does not stop for off-duty time (except qualifying sleeper berth splits).

30-Minute Break Requirement

A driver must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving. The break can be off-duty, sleeper berth, or on-duty not driving (per the 2020 rule change). You cannot drive again until the break is complete.

60/70-Hour Limit

A driver cannot drive after accumulating:

• 60 hours on duty in a 7-day period, OR
• 70 hours on duty in an 8-day period

The cycle used depends on whether your company operates vehicles 7 days a week (use 70/8) or fewer (use 60/7).

34-Hour Restart

A driver can reset their 60/70-hour clock by taking 34 consecutive hours off duty. This starts a new 7-day or 8-day period. There is currently no limit to how many restarts a driver can take.

Sleeper Berth Provision

Drivers using a sleeper berth can split their 10-hour off-duty period into two parts:

• 7/3 split — One period of at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth + one period of at least 3 hours (off duty or sleeper berth)
• Neither period counts against the 14-hour window when paired

Short-Haul Exemption

Drivers who operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location can use the short-haul exemption if they:

• Return to their work reporting location within 14 hours
• Do not exceed 11 hours of driving
• Have operated this way for at least 8 days in the past 30

Short-haul drivers are exempt from the ELD mandate and do not need to keep RODS (Records of Duty Status).

ELD Requirements

Since the ELD mandate went into full effect, all drivers required to keep RODS must use a registered Electronic Logging Device. The ELD must be:

• Registered on FMCSA's approved ELD list
• Properly connected to the vehicle's engine ECM
• Able to produce records in standard format for roadside inspection
• Supported by the driver's ability to annotate and edit logs

Common HOS Violations and Penalties

• Driving beyond 11-hour limit — $16,864 max per offense
• Driving beyond 14-hour window — $16,864 max per offense
• False log entry — $16,864 per offense; can also result in driver disqualification
• No ELD in use — Out-of-service order + $1,270-$12,695 fine
• 60/70 hour violation — $16,864 max per offense

How Carriers Should Monitor HOS Compliance

• Review ELD data daily — don't wait for end-of-week reviews
• Address unidentified driving events within 24 hours
• Track each driver's 60/70-hour running total in real-time
• Document corrective actions for any violations
• Retain ELD records and supporting documents for 6 months