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HOS Logbook

Electronic ledger, log book and service hours

Here’s the best way to learn about the HOS Logbook rules

What you should know about hours of service regulations

Hours of service (HOS logbook) is a regulation set by the FMCSA regarding the number of hours on duty and behind the wheel that commercial interstate drivers may spend each day and in a 7 or 8 consecutive day period.

Commercial truck drivers may only be on duty for 14 hours, with a limit of 11 hours of driving within those 14 hours.

The driving time limits are 60 hours in any 7 consecutive day period or 70 hours in 8 days. It is a “rolling” total, so each day at midnight, a new day begins, potentially giving drivers hours to drive that day. The consecutive day clock restarts with 34 hours in a row as off-duty.

These rules are implemented to avoid accumulated fatigue or wear and tear on drivers and to avoid, for example, driving hazards.

Any other work that the driver has spent time on, apart from driving, will be counted as on-duty hours. See this article for more details on this last point:

Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 Part 395.2: Hours of Service for Drivers(HOS Logbook).

HOS LOGBOOK, Limits on hours of service

  • Maximum driving limit of 11 hours out of a total of 14 hours of service. If more than 8 hours have elapsed since the end of the last off-duty period or in the truck, driving will not be permitted until the off-duty time is taken.
  • 14 hour limit. After 10 consecutive hours off duty you may not drive more than 14 hours. This off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.
  • Breaks: You may drive only if 8 hours or less have elapsed since the end of the driver’s last rest period or sleeper berth of at least 30 minutes. That is, drivers must take at least one 30-minute break within the first 8 hours of driving. Meal breaks or any other off-duty breaks count, and the 30-minute break also counts against the 14 hours on duty.
  • 60/70 hour limit
  • May not drive after 60/70 hours of service in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a period of 7/8 consecutive days after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. This is not a “per week” limit, but is based on a “continuous” period of 7 or 8 days, regardless of the days covered.
  • 60 hours / 7 days
  • Once you complete 60 hours of service (not just driving) in a 7 consecutive day period, you will not be allowed to operate until you have accumulated more available hours in the 7 consecutive day schedule. That is, at midnight on the seventh day, the first day ends and the new day becomes the seventh day, and then math. Spending 34 consecutive hours out of service will reset your clock to zero.
  • 70 Hours / 8 Days:
  • Once you complete 70 hours of service (not just driving) in an 8 consecutive day period, you will not be allowed to operate until you have accumulated more hours available on the 8 consecutive day schedule. That is, at midnight on the eighth day, the first day ends and the new day becomes the eighth day, and then more math. Spending 34 consecutive hours out of service will reset your clock to zero.

What is service time? HOS

In short, it is all the time you are working, paid or unpaid, for a motor carrier, together with the time you are doing paid work for someone else, which includes:

All driving time, as defined by the term driving time;

All time taking care of your truck when it breaks down;

All time inspecting, servicing or conditioning any truck, including refueling and washing it at any time;

All other time in a commercial vehicle, except time spent resting in a vehicle, time spent in the bunk berth or up to 2 hours in the passenger seat before or after 8 hours in the bunk berth.

All time in a plant, terminal, facility or other property of a motor carrier or shipper, or on any public property, awaiting dispatch, unless relieved of duty by the motor carrier;

All time loading, unloading, supervising or assisting your truck; or handling paperwork for shipments;

All time spent providing a breath, saliva or urine sample for drug/alcohol testing, including travel to and from the collection site;

All time spent performing any other work for a motor carrier, including giving or receiving training and driving a company car; and

All time spent performing paid work for anyone other than a motor carrier, such as a part-time job at a local restaurant.

HOS Logbook