---
title: "Hours of service rules"
description: "These are the federal hours-of-service limits for property-carrying commercial drivers. Passenger carriers follow different rules. Use the hours of service calculator to see how much time you have lef"
canonical: https://mydotcheck.com/hours-of-service-rules
last_updated: 2026-10-21
---

# Hours of service rules

These are the federal hours-of-service limits for property-carrying commercial drivers. Passenger carriers follow different rules. Use the hours of service calculator to see how much time you have left.

## The limits at a glance

| Rule | Limit |
| --- | --- |
| Driving limit | 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty |
| On-duty window | No driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty |
| 30-minute break | Required after 8 cumulative hours of driving, can be any non-driving period of 30 minutes |
| Weekly limit | 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days |
| Restart | 34 or more consecutive hours off duty resets the 7/8-day period |
| Sleeper berth | Split the 10-hour break into 7+3, 8+2 or longer pairings, with at least 7 hours in the berth |

## Common exceptions

-   Adverse driving conditions can extend the driving and on-duty window by up to 2 hours
-   Short-haul drivers within a 150 air-mile radius who return to the work reporting location within 14 hours may skip ELD logs and the 30-minute break
-   Agricultural and other exemptions apply in specific cases

MyDotCheck is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of the U.S. Department of Transportation or FMCSA. Data comes from public FMCSA datasets and may lag official records by a day or more. Government filings can be made directly with FMCSA at no charge.

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## Hours of service questions

### Does the 30-minute break pause the 14-hour clock?

No. The 14-hour window keeps running during breaks. Only a qualifying sleeper berth split pauses it.

### Am I on the 60 or 70 hour rule?

Carriers that do not operate every day of the week use 60 hours in 7 days. Carriers operating every day may use 70 hours in 8 days.

---
Canonical URL: https://mydotcheck.com/hours-of-service-rules
Title: Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers (Property-Carrying)