What is Hours of Service (HOS)?
In the United States, FMCSA's rules for property-carrying drivers cap driving at 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and bar driving after the 14th consecutive hour since coming on duty. A driver needs a 30-minute break once 8 cumulative hours of driving have passed. Weekly limits cap on-duty time at 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, and a 34-hour break restarts the count. Passenger-carrying drivers follow different limits, and exceptions apply, such as the short-haul exception and the sleeper berth provision. Canada and the UK have their own rules. Drivers record their duty status in a record of duty status (RODS), which an ELD keeps automatically for most carriers.
Key facts
- Driving and on-duty limits reset after qualifying rest periods
- Violations can bring fines and out-of-service orders
- An ELD keeps the record of duty status automatically for most drivers
- Canada and the UK or EU use separate rule sets
