Hours of Service Rules Explained for New Truck Drivers

Federal Hours of Service (HOS) rules limit how long truck drivers can drive, to prevent fatigue. They also shape your paycheck, since most drivers are paid by the mile.

The main rules for property-carrying drivers

• 11-hour driving limit: up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-hour window: you can't drive after the 14th hour since you came on duty, even if you took breaks.
• 30-minute break: required after 8 cumulative hours of driving.
• 60/70-hour limit: no driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 in 8 days.
• 34-hour restart: 34 consecutive hours off resets your 60/70-hour clock.

How hours are tracked

Most drivers log hours on an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) connected to the truck's engine.

Why it matters for pay

Waiting at a shipper for hours eats into your 14-hour window without adding miles. That's why detention pay matters. Ask recruiters how, and after how long, they pay for waiting time.

An example day

You start at 6:00 a.m. after 10 hours off. Your 14-hour window closes at 8:00 p.m. You drive until 2:00 p.m. (8 hours), take a 30-minute break, then drive 3 more hours to reach your 11-hour limit at 5:30 p.m. After that you're done driving until you've had another 10 hours off.

The sleeper berth option

Drivers with a sleeper berth can split their 10 hours off into two periods (for example 7 and 3 hours), which can pause the 14-hour clock. The rules are detailed, so learn them from your carrier's safety department.

Common violations to avoid

• Driving past the 14th hour because of a late delivery
• Forgetting the 30-minute break
• Running out of weekly hours without planning a restart

Frequently asked questions

Does waiting at a dock count? Yes. On-duty time includes loading, unloading and waiting, and it uses your 14-hour window.

Do bus drivers follow the same rules? Passenger-carrying drivers have different limits (for example a 10-hour driving limit).

Bottom line

Plan your day around the 14-hour window, protect your weekly hours, and ask carriers how they pay for detention.