How long are you legally allowed to drive for work?

This window is usually thought of as a “daily” limit even though it is not based on a 24-hour period. You are allowed a period of 14 consecutive hours in which to drive up to 11 hours after being off duty for 10 or more consecutive hours. The 14-consecutive-hour driving window begins when you start any kind of work.

What is the 70 hour rule?

What is the 70-hour Rule? The 70-hour in 8 days rule (or 60 in 7) is the total time spent Driving and ON-Duty, and cannot exceed 70 hours in any 8-day period (or 60 hours in any 7-day period). In other words, drivers have a limited number of hours they can be ON-Duty per cycle (week).

How many hours can a local truck driver work?

The 14-hour limit

Under this HOS rule, drivers cannot be on duty for more than 14 hours each day and cannot drive for more than 11 of those hours. Drivers can perform other work during their 14 hour duty limit, but only 11 hours can be spent in driving time.

How many miles can a truck driver drive in 11 hours?

With that in mind, we like to say 50 mph on average means we're doing well on time. That puts us at about 550 miles if a driver is driving for 11 hours.

How do you extend the 14 hour rule?

Drivers can pause the 14-hour clock today

This is known as the “split sleeper-berth” option, and it works like this: The driver must take a break of at least 2 consecutive hours sometime during the day. The break must be spent off duty or in a sleeper berth (or using a combination of the two).

HGV Drivers Hours And Working Time Directive Basics

Can you work past your 14 hour clock?

Once the driver has reached the end of this 14-consecutive-hour threshold period, they cannot drive again until they have been off duty for another 10 consecutive hours, or the equivalent of at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.

What is the 7 3 split rule?

Essentially for a 7/3 split, a driver has to stay in the sleeper berth for seven hours, and then spend another three hours relaxing somehow, or even going back into the berth.

Can a truck driver refuse a load?

There are several completely legitimate reasons to refuse a load. The first is mechanical issues. If your truck is not in safe condition to drive, don't take the load. Similarly, if YOU are not in a safe condition to drive because of illness or exhaustion, don't take the load.

How long should you drive in a day?

As a general rule, it's safe to drive for no longer than eight hours a day, taking breaks of at least 15 minutes every two hours. This means you can safely drive for around 500 miles, not taking into account external factors such as slowing for tolls, traffic, travelling with children, and tiredness.

How long do truck drivers drive daily?

The general hours-of-service guidelines say that in most cases, truck drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours a day. This driving must occur within a 14-hour window after a rest period of 10 or more hours. The 14-hour driving window starts when a driving shift begins.

What is the maximum driving hours per day?

The drivers' hours rules puts a daily limit of 9 hours of driving between daily/weekly rest periods. The daily limit can however be increased to a maximum of 10 hours driving in a day but only twice in any one week.

How many hours can a truck driver drive in 24 hours Australia?

A driver operating within the Australia Standard Hours of Service rules cannot drive more than 12 hours in a 24 hour period. A driver operating within the Australia Standard Hours of Service rules must take a mandatory 15 minute break prior to the completion of 5.5 hours of continuous work.

Is 34 hour reset mandatory?

Is the 34-hour restart rule mandatory? No, the 34-hour restart provision is not mandatory. The rule is simply one tool you can use to manage your drivers' hours. Depending on your drivers and their preferences, a 34-hour restart may be the quickest way to reset their clocks and get back on the road.

How long can you drive without a break?

The 4.5 hour rule? You cannot drive for longer than 4.5 hours without taking a break of at least 45 minutes. Taking this break causes a fresh 4.5 hour period of drive to begin. Note – See the rules on breaks to ensure you do not break the 4.5 hour rule.

What is the 60 hour rule?

The rule basically means that a commercial truck driver can only be on duty for 60 hours within any 7-day period, after which he cannot drive until his hours are below 60 (either with a 34-hour reset or by waiting for hours to “drop off”).

How does the 8 day rule work?

The DOT 70-hour 8-day rule prohibits commercial drivers from being on the road for more than 70 hours over 8 consecutive days. Fleet managers with drivers that do not operate every day of the week will not need to consider the 70-hour 8-day rule, as a separate 60-hour 7-day rule is in place for those drivers.

How far is too far to drive to work?

If your drive to work and back home exceeds 2 hours, then it is definitely too far. This means that your daily commute takes at least 8.3% of your day. Here are a few examples to better illustrate how much of your day you spend driving to work: 1-hour commute = 4.1%

What is considered a long drive to work?

Katie Acosta, a director in marketing communications who works for a technology company in the San Francisco Bay Area, has what is considered an extreme commute — defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as taking more than 90 minutes to travel to work, each way.

Is 12 hours driving too much?

You should not drive for more than 9 hours a day, excluding breaks. For every 4.5 hours driving you should take breaks amounting to 45 minutes. For long-distance driving, this means you can drive around 500 miles safely in a day.

What is coercion rule?

The Coercion Rule allows drivers to report incidents of coercion to FMCSA and authorizes FMCSA to issue penalties against motor carriers, shippers, receivers, or transportation intermediaries that have coerced drivers.

What is Slipseat driving?

Slip seating refers to when a driver isn't assigned a specific truck, but rather gets into one once another driver returns from their route. The vehicles rarely sit idle. This model is seen more often among local operations or those with dedicated routes.

Can a trucking company Force dispatch?

Trucking Companies Forcing Drivers to Dispatch

Forced dispatch is a growing trend among today's trucking companies. It occurs when a driver is not able or willing to take a trip, but the dispatch or trucking company finds a way to insist that the driver does take the load.

Is sleeper berth considered off duty?

Sleeper berth means the driver is resting (not necessarily sleeping) in the sleeper-berth compartment of the unit. Off-duty time is when the driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work.

What is a 8 and 2 split?

A second solution, albeit only a temporary and occasional option, is to utilize the 8/2 split sleeper rule. According to FMCSA, “Drivers using a sleeper berth must take at least 8 hours in the sleeper berth and may split the sleeper berth time into two periods provided neither is less than 2 hours.”

What is a sleeper berth?

Sleeper berth is the time spent where the truck driver is resting inside of the sleeper berth compartment of their unit. Under the HOS rules, truck drivers may use the sleeper berth rule to rest 8 hours in their sleeper berth.