The trucking industry depends on safety and compliance — especially when drivers are running long hours and tight schedules. That’s why Hours of Service (HOS) rules exist: to reduce fatigue-related risk and make sure drivers have enough time to rest between shifts.
If you’re a truck driver or owner-operator, you’ve definitely heard about Hours of Service (HOS) — the rules that control how long you can drive, how long you can stay on duty, and when you must take breaks. These limits affect everything from pickup timing to delivery windows, and they play a big role in how you plan your week and protect your income.
The “trucker clock,” a colloquial term for the hours of service regulations, acts as a safeguard against driver fatigue and promotes road safety. Truck drivers must adhere to these regulations to prevent accidents caused by exhaustion or impaired alertness.
In essence, the dot driving hours refer to the hours of service guidelines set by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Shippers and trucking companies must be well-versed in these regulations to optimize logistics planning and maintain compliance with legal requirements. By understanding how many hours a truck driver can drive within the stipulated timeframes, stakeholders in the trucking industry can ensure a balance between operational efficiency and safety on the roads.
HOS Rules (Quick Summary)
- 11-hour driving limit: You can drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- 14-hour limit: You cannot drive after your 14-hour on-duty window starts (even if you still have driving time left)
- 30-minute break: Required after 8 hours of driving time (can be on-duty, not driving)
- 60/70-hour limit: You cannot drive after 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days
- 34-hour reset: Taking 34 consecutive hours off duty resets your 60/70-hour clock (unless you run recap hours)
What Constitutes Hours of Service in the Trucking Industry?
Hours of Service (HOS) refer to governmental regulations that prescribe the maximum allowable working hours for truck drivers in a single day. These regulations are set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a specialized branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation dedicated to overseeing the trucking industry.
Within the framework of their guidelines, the FMCSA employs Hours of Service to regulate various aspects of a driver’s daily schedule, including:
- Total amount of drive time
- Number and duration of breaks
The FMCSA’s HOS regulations governing the duration of a driver’s daily drive time are delineated as follows:
- 11-Hour Driving Limit: A driver is restricted from driving for more than 11 hours within a 24-hour period. Moreover, preceding shifts of this duration, a trucker must observe a consecutive 10-hour break period.
- 14-Hour Limit: Drivers transporting any type of freight are prohibited from being actively “on duty” for more than 14 hours in a single day. This 14-hour limit encompasses all breaks, traffic-related delays, driving periods, and rest intervals experienced by a driver while on duty.
- 60/70-Hour Limit: A driver cannot continue driving after reaching 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours on duty in 8 days, depending on the carrier’s schedule. To restart the weekly limit, drivers may take a 34-hour reset (or manage hours through recap rules).
Number and Duration of Breaks: Beyond regulating daily drive time, the FMCSA’s HOS guidelines also delineate the number, duration, and frequency of breaks for truckers, as outlined below:
- 30-Minute Driving Break: After accumulating 8 hours of driving time, a driver must take a 30-minute break unless they have already done so during a previous non-driving period. This break can be fulfilled through on-duty non-driving periods of any kind, provided they last for 30 consecutive minutes (e.g., waiting to be loaded, sitting in a parking lot, etc.).
- 10-Hour Consecutive Break: Each 11-hour driving period must be preceded by a 10-hour consecutive break period.
- 34-Hour Break: Following any period of 60/70 hours of driving within 7/8 consecutive days, every driver must actively take a 34-hour break, unless they are operating on “recap hours,” details of which can be explored further here.
Why HOS Rules Matter in Real Life
HOS isn’t just a compliance rule — it affects your load planning and profitability. If a pickup takes too long, your 14-hour window can run out fast. If you lose hours to detention or bad appointment timing, you may miss a delivery window or lose the chance to reload the same day. Understanding your clock helps you protect your week, not just avoid violations.
If you want to stay compliant and keep your week profitable, weekly planning matters just as much as knowing the rules.
If HOS keeps causing missed appointments, wasted hours, or lost reloads, Logity Dispatch can help you plan loads around your clock and reduce downtime. Talk to Logity Dispatch to see what lane strategy makes sense for your truck.
