Hours of Service (HOS) Calculator
Free ToolEnter your shift start time, driving hours used, and on-duty hours to instantly calculate driving time remaining, 14-hour window status, break requirements, weekly limit position, and a dispatch safety verdict.
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The 6 FMCSA Hours of Service Rules — 49 CFR Part 395
These six rules govern every property-carrying CMV driver in interstate commerce. All six apply simultaneously — violating any one triggers an out-of-service order or civil penalty:
11-Hour Driving Limit
49 CFR §395.3(a)(1)
May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
14-Hour Duty Window
49 CFR §395.3(a)(2)
May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. Off-duty breaks do not pause this clock.
30-Minute Break
49 CFR §395.3(a)(3)
Must take a 30-minute break before driving if 8 hours of cumulative driving have passed without a 30-minute interruption.
10-Hour Off-Duty Reset
49 CFR §395.3(a)
Must take 10 consecutive hours off duty before starting a new driving period.
60/70-Hour Weekly Limit
49 CFR §395.3(b)
60 hours in 7 days (carriers not operating every day) or 70 hours in 8 days (carriers operating every day). Rolling totals, not calendar weeks.
34-Hour Restart
49 CFR §395.3(c)
Optional. Taking 34+ consecutive hours off duty resets the weekly 60/70-hour total to zero.
HOS compliance is just one part of dispatch readiness. Before sending a driver, also verify their CDL expiration date, DOT physical validity, and random drug testing compliance. A driver can be HOS-legal but still illegal to dispatch with an expired medical card or CDL.
How the 14-Hour Rule Actually Works — The Most Misunderstood HOS Rule
The 14-hour rule is the rule most drivers and dispatchers get wrong. It is not a "14 hours of driving" limit — it is a 14-hour window during which all driving must be completed.
Example — Why this catches drivers off guard:
6:00 AM → Driver comes on duty (14-hour clock starts)
6:00 AM–8:00 AM → Pre-trip, loading (2 hrs on-duty, 0 hrs driving)
8:00 AM–2:00 PM → Driving (6 hrs driving)
2:00 PM–4:00 PM → Waiting at delivery (2 hrs on-duty, not driving)
4:00 PM–7:00 PM → Driving (3 hrs driving = 9 hrs total driving)
8:00 PM → 14-hour window EXPIRES. Driver must stop — even with 2 driving hours left.
Critical: Off-duty breaks, meal stops, and fuel stops do NOT pause the 14-hour clock. Once you come on duty, the clock runs continuously until you take 10 consecutive hours off duty. The only exception is a properly structured sleeper berth split.
Dispatchers managing multiple drivers should use our DOT Physical Expiration Tracker and CDL Expiration Calculator alongside this HOS tool to build a complete pre-dispatch checklist.
HOS Violation Penalties — What Each Violation Costs
| Violation | Max Civil Fine | Out of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Driving beyond 11-hour limit | $16,000 | 🚫 Yes |
| Driving beyond 14-hour window | $16,000 | 🚫 Yes |
| Missing 30-minute break | $1,000–$16,000 | ✓ No |
| Exceeding 60/70-hour weekly limit | $16,000 | 🚫 Yes |
| Falsifying RODS/ELD records | $16,000 | 🚫 Yes |
| ELD malfunction not documented | $1,000+ | ✓ No |
Source: 49 CFR §395.3, FMCSA civil penalty guidelines. Out-of-service means driver cannot operate CMV until sufficient off-duty time has been accumulated.
How HOS Violations Damage Your CSA Score
HOS violations are tracked in the Hours-of-Service Compliance BASIC of FMCSA's CSA program. Points accumulate over a 24-month rolling period.
65%+
Intervention threshold for carriers
24 mo
How long violations stay on CSA record
$0.10+
Insurance premium increase per CSA point
3rd
Consecutive violation triggers targeted audit
HOS violations compound with other compliance failures. Use our Driver Qualification File Checker to ensure your DQ files are audit-ready before a CSA intervention, and our Random Drug Testing Calculator to verify your testing program meets minimums — combined violations accelerate CSA score damage significantly.
About This HOS Calculator
Built by TruckComplianceHQ, a DOT compliance software company. All calculations are based on 49 CFR Part 395 as published in the eCFR, last amended March 16, 2026. The calculator applies standard property-carrying driver rules — it does not currently model sleeper berth splits, adverse driving conditions extensions, or the Split Duty Period pilot program. Browse our full free DOT compliance tools for CDL expiry, DOT physicals, drug testing, and DQ file compliance.
This tool is for informational purposes only. For official guidance, consult 49 CFR Part 395 or contact FMCSA directly.
Hours of Service Rules — Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can a truck driver drive in one day?
Under FMCSA 49 CFR §395.3, a property-carrying CMV driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours per day, but only within a 14-hour duty window that starts when the driver first comes on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Once either the 11-hour driving limit or the 14-hour window is reached, the driver may not drive until they have taken another 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty breaks do not stop or extend the 14-hour clock.
What is the 14-hour rule in trucking?
The 14-hour rule under 49 CFR §395.3(a)(2) means a truck driver cannot drive after the 14th consecutive hour since coming on duty — even if they have driving hours remaining. If a driver starts their shift at 6:00 AM, they must stop driving by 8:00 PM regardless of how many of their 11 hours they have used. Off-duty breaks, meals, and fuel stops do not pause or extend this 14-hour window under standard rules.
When is the 30-minute break required for truck drivers?
Under 49 CFR §395.3(a)(3), a driver must take a 30-minute break before driving if 8 cumulative hours of driving time have passed without at least a 30-minute interruption. The break can be any non-driving period — off duty, sleeper berth, or on-duty not driving. It does not have to be spent resting. Drivers exempt from the short-haul exception (150 air-mile radius, returns to base within 14 hours) are not subject to the 30-minute break requirement.
What is the 60/70-hour rule in trucking?
Under 49 CFR §395.3(b), drivers cannot drive after accumulating 60 on-duty hours in 7 consecutive days (if the carrier does not operate every day of the week) or 70 on-duty hours in 8 consecutive days (if the carrier operates every day of the week). These are rolling totals — not calendar week limits. A driver may reset their weekly total by taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty (34-hour restart).
How does the 34-hour restart work?
The 34-hour restart under 49 CFR §395.3(c) is optional, not mandatory. A driver who takes 34 or more consecutive hours completely off duty effectively resets their 7 or 8-day rolling total back to zero hours. This allows drivers who have nearly exhausted their weekly limit to return to full hours. The restart period must include two periods from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM home terminal time, though this restriction was suspended since 2015 and the core requirement is simply 34+ consecutive off-duty hours.
What are the penalties for HOS violations?
HOS violations under 49 CFR Part 395 carry civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation for drivers and carriers. Drivers found in violation during a roadside inspection are placed out of service immediately and cannot drive until they have accumulated sufficient off-duty time. HOS violations also add points to a carrier's CSA score under the Hours-of-Service Compliance BASIC, which can trigger increased inspections, audits, and higher insurance premiums.
What is the short-haul exemption for hours of service?
Under 49 CFR §395.1(e)(1), CDL short-haul drivers are exempt from the 30-minute break requirement and ELD/RODS requirements if: they operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location, they return to the work reporting location and are released within 14 consecutive hours, and they do not drive after the 11th hour of coming on duty. Non-CDL drivers operating within 150 air miles have slightly different thresholds (10-hour driving limit, 12-hour duty period).
Does off-duty time stop the 14-hour clock?
No. Under standard FMCSA rules, off-duty breaks, meal breaks, and fuel stops do not pause or extend the 14-hour duty window. Once you come on duty, the 14-hour clock counts down continuously until you take 10 consecutive hours off duty. The only exception under current rules is the sleeper berth split provision, where properly structured sleeper berth periods can effectively pause the 14-hour window. FMCSA is currently piloting a Split Duty Period program that may allow pausing the window for up to 3 hours, but this is not yet standard regulation.