A Guide to FMCSA Hours of Service Rules

Did you know that at 60 miles per hour, an 80,000-pound truck travels the length of a football field in just over three seconds?

FMCSA Hours of Service rules limit how long truck drivers stay on the road or perform daily work to reduce fatigue and prevent deadly crashes. You must log every change in driver duty status to pass an FMCSA compliance check without issues.

In this blog post, we’ll explain how FMCSA Hours of Service (HOS) rules work and how FMCA Filings keeps you compliant without the stress of navigating FMCSA regulations alone.

What Are HOS Rules and Why Were They Created?

FMCSA hours of service rules limit how long you drive, when you take breaks, and how many hours you work during a rolling seven or eight-day cycle. Following them reduces the risk of serious accidents and keeps your carrier out of legal trouble.

FMCA Filings helps you avoid costly mistakes with a simple Compliance Check that flags missing filings or expired updates before they trigger a violation.

Who Has To Follow FMSCA Hours of Service Rules?

FMCSA Hours of Service rules apply to vehicles over 10,001 pounds, carriers transporting hazardous materials, and companies that move nine or more passengers for pay. Drivers must follow federal rules, including the 60/70-hour limit, whenever they cross state lines for work.

Drivers who switch to intrastate routes must still follow federal HOS rules for seven or eight days after their last interstate trip. FMCSA enforces this rule to stop carriers from using intrastate schedules to avoid stricter federal limits.

FMCA Filings updates your operation type through the MCS-150 Biennial Update to help you stay in compliance during inspections and audits.

What’s Different About the New HOS Rules?

The FMCSA updated several rules to give drivers more flexibility. The short-haul radius now extends to 150 air miles with a 14-hour work shift. Drivers who face bad weather or unexpected delays get two extra hours to finish the trip. The 30-minute break rule now applies only after eight hours of driving, not total on-duty time.

Understanding FMCSA Hours of Service Rules

The sections below explain the daily driving limits and how each one helps keep you and others safe on the road.

Follow the 14-Hour On-Duty Limit

Once you go on duty, you have 14 consecutive hours to finish all driving, no matter how many breaks you take during that window. If you keep driving past the 14-hour on-duty limit, inspectors will flag it as a violation. FMCA Filings helps you log time correctly to protect your schedule and avoid costly penalties.

Respect the 11-Hour Driving Limit

Once you've spent 10 hours off the clock, you're allowed 11 hours of drive time. If you reach the 11-hour driving limit, you must stop driving, even if your workday isn't over. Going past this limit puts you and others at risk and leads to serious fines or shutdowns. FMCA Filings helps you track hours accurately so you stay within your limits and on the road legally.

Take the Required 30-Minute Break

After eight hours of driving, you need to pull over for at least 30 minutes. This break counts as “on-duty, not driving,” but you must log it clearly. Skipping the 30-minute break rule leads to violations and puts you at risk of shutdowns during inspections. FMCA Filings helps you log breaks properly so you stay compliant and avoid unnecessary problems on the road.

Use the Sleeper Berth Provision Correctly

It’s possible to split your 10-hour off-duty time into two separate rest periods. One must include at least seven hours in the sleeper berth, and the other must be at least two hours off-duty. When used together, these breaks pause your 14-hour driving window. FMCA Filings helps you track each sleeper period correctly, making sure your logs meet FMCSA requirements and show clear rest times during inspections.

What Are the Penalties for Failing to Comply?

HOS violations lead to roadside shutdowns, fines up to $16,000, and damaged safety scores. Repeated offenses or intentional violations may trigger criminal charges. FMCA Filings helps you stay compliant by keeping your paperwork accurate, organized, and ready for inspection.

Stay 100% Compliant and Avoid Expensive Fines with FMCA Filings

FMCA Filings helps you follow every part of the FMCSA hours of service rules without dealing with confusing government forms or outdated instructions.

If you want a deeper look at the DOT 70-hour rule, check out our other blog that explains how it works.

Tired of confusing forms and the risk of expensive fines? Contact FMCA Filings for expert help that keeps you compliant and on the road.