Hours of Service (HOS) violations are consistently among the top violations found during roadside inspections. Yet the rules confuse a lot of drivers — especially when you add sleeper berth splits, the 70-hour reset, and ELD requirements on top of the basic limits. Here's the plain-English breakdown.
The Core Hours of Service Rules (Property Carriers)
11-Hour Driving Limit
You may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. This is your hard ceiling for driving — once you hit 11 hours of drive time, you must stop, period.
14-Hour On-Duty Window
You may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Note: this is a window, not a driving limit. You can be on duty for 14 hours, but only drive for 11 of them. Once 14 hours have passed, you cannot drive again — even if you've only driven 8 hours.
30-Minute Rest Break
If you've been driving for 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption (off-duty or sleeper berth time), you must take that 30-minute break before driving further.
10-Hour Off-Duty Requirement
You need 10 consecutive hours off duty before starting a new duty period. This is typically your rest period between shifts.
The 60/70-Hour Rule (Rolling Reset)
In addition to the daily limits, there's a weekly limit:
- 60-hour/7-day rule: If your carrier operates trucks 7 days a week, you may not drive after having been on duty 60 or more hours in any 7 consecutive days.
- 70-hour/8-day rule: If your carrier operates trucks every day of the week, the limit is 70 hours in any 8 consecutive days.
The 34-Hour Restart: You can reset your 60/70-hour clock by taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. This is useful for resetting mid-week if you've used most of your hours.
ELD Mandate: Who's Required
The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate requires most commercial motor vehicle drivers to use certified ELDs to record their Hours of Service automatically. The rule applies to drivers who:
- Are required to maintain Records of Duty Status (RODS)
- Drive in interstate commerce
- Operate CMVs with a GVWR over 10,001 lbs
ELD Exemptions — You may be exempt if:
- You drive short-haul (within 150 air-miles of your normal work reporting location and return within 14 hours — you must use paper logs or time records instead)
- Your vehicle was manufactured before the year 2000 (engine pre-dates ELD compatibility)
- You drive for a utility company in emergency operations
- You drive under the driveaway-towaway exemption
If you're not sure whether you're exempt, assume you're not. The penalty for not having an ELD when required can be up to $16,000 per violation.
Sleeper Berth Provisions
If your truck has a sleeper berth, you have additional flexibility:
The Split Sleeper Berth Rule allows you to split your 10-hour off-duty requirement into two periods:
- One period of at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth
- One period of at least 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth or off duty
Key rule: neither period counts against your 14-hour window when paired with the other. This is useful for team drivers and drivers managing difficult appointment windows.
Common HOS Violations to Avoid
1. Log falsification — The #1 career-ending violation. Never log time you didn't actually take, or hide drive time.
2. Exceeding the 11-hour driving limit — Your ELD will usually prevent this, but pre-ELD habits die hard.
3. Exceeding the 14-hour window — Common when drivers get stuck at shippers/receivers.
4. Failure to have a valid ELD — Keep a backup paper log in the truck in case of ELD malfunction (you have 8 days to get it fixed).
5. Not using the correct duty status — "On-duty, not driving" vs "Driving" vs "Off-duty" vs "Sleeper berth" — each has specific legal definitions.
ELD Malfunction Procedure
If your ELD malfunctions, you're required to:
1. Note the malfunction and contact your motor carrier within 24 hours
2. Keep a paper log for up to 8 days while the ELD is being repaired
3. Carry written documentation of the malfunction
Use our Trucker Logbook Template to track your hours manually — great backup if your ELD glitches or you're in an exempt operation. Pre-formatted, DOT-compliant, instant download. Get the Logbook Template →