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HOS: What Does it Mean?

HOS: a three-letter acronym that sets guidelines for the amount of time that a commercial driver can drive. HOS, or Hours-of-Service, is a category in CSA guidelines that is regulated by the FMCSA, Department of Transportation, and carriers themselves to ensure that commercial drivers are safety compliant.  

There are multiple regulations set in place to make certain that drivers receive appropriate breaks and time away from the wheel to be safe on the road. These requirements are intended to avoid driver fatigue and hence decrease the number of fatigue-related accidents. 

Below is a comprehensive list of driver hours-of-service requirements explained by the FMCSA. Drivers should be aware of and understand these requirements as violations can result in probation. 

Hours-of-Service Requirements for Drivers

70-Hour Limit

The 70-hour limit refers to the amount of on-duty time a driver can accumulate over an 8-day period. Drivers must stop after 70 hours are spent driving or on duty. The 8 days do not resemble a workweek as they refer to any consecutive 8 days (ex. Sunday-Sunday, Tuesday-Tuesday). Drivers are permitted to perform non-driving duties after the limit is reached.

14-Hour Limit

A driver may only be on duty for 14 consecutive hours after being off duty for 10 consecutive hours. The 14 consecutive hours include any hours on duty, driving, or off duty after coming on duty. Once the 14-hour period is reached, a driver must spend another 10 consecutive hours off duty or in the sleeper berth before returning to another 14-hour period.

11-Hour Rule

Within the 14-hour limit, 11 of those hours may be spent driving. This includes all time spent at the driving controls of a commercial motor vehicle in operation. The time also includes any stationary traffic time or traffic delays. This rule is not active per day; the 11 hours reset after a 10-hour break.

8-Hour Rule/30-Minute Rest Break

There is also a rule regarding shorter driving breaks. A 30-minute break is required before accumulating 8 hours of driving time. Breaks can be taken with time off duty, in a sleeper berth, or on duty not driving. There is no limit to breaks taken.

The Importance of Understanding HOS 

The most common CSA violation from the BASICs is hours-of-service and log accuracy.  We want you to be safe while driving and staying within the hours-of-service limits keeps you in accordance with FMCSA and necessary time away from the driver’s seat can help you stay focused and alert on the road.

Drivers, if you have any questions or concerns regarding HOS or CSA requirements, there are many resources available, including your Safety & Operations teams. Stay well-rested on the road and abide by HOS.

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