- 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- No driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty.
- A 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving.
- No driving after 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. A 34-hour break restarts the count.
The core limits (§395.3)
| Limit | Rule |
|---|---|
| Driving limit | 11 hours, after 10 consecutive hours off duty |
| Duty window | No driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty; off-duty time doesn't extend it (except under the sleeper-berth provision) |
| Rest break | At least 30 consecutive minutes off driving (off duty, sleeper berth or on duty not driving) after 8 cumulative hours of driving |
| Weekly limit | 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 days if the carrier operates every day |
| Restart | 34 or more consecutive hours off duty restarts the 7/8-day period |
Passenger-carrying drivers follow different limits: 10 hours driving after 8 hours off, and 15 hours on duty.
Sleeper berth (§395.1(g))
Drivers using a sleeper berth can split the required 10 hours off duty into two periods. One must be at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth, the other at least 2 hours, and together they must total 10 or more. Neither qualifying period counts against the 14-hour window.
Main exceptions (§395.1)
- Adverse driving conditions: up to 2 extra hours of driving and of the duty window when unexpected conditions arise.
- Short-haul: drivers who stay within 150 air-miles of their normal reporting location and are released within 14 hours don't keep logs and aren't subject to the 30-minute break.
- Agricultural, oilfield and utility operations have their own exemptions or modified rules.
Records and ELDs (§395.8, Subpart B)
Drivers who must keep records of duty status generally have to use an electronic logging device. Carriers must keep the records and supporting documents for 6 months. See ELD rules.
Texas intrastate drivers
Texas sets different limits for drivers in intrastate commerce: 12 hours driving, 15 hours on duty and 70 hours in 7 days. See Texas intrastate vs federal hours of service, or check your hours with the calculator.
Official text: 49 CFR Part 395 on eCFR.