11 Hours Driving
A property-carrying CMV driver may generally drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
What Is Hours ofService (HOS)?
Hours of Service, commonly called HOS, are federal safety rules that limit when and how long certain commercial motor vehicle drivers may drive and work. The rules establish driving limits, duty windows, rest requirements and record keeping requirements intended to reduce the risks associated with driver fatigue. Federal HOS regulations are primarily contained in 49 CFR Part 395 and administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Safer DriversStronger RoadsA Safer Tomorrow
HOS at a Glance
Key rules every driver should know.
14-Hour Driving Window
After coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty, a driver generally can't drive beyond the end of the 14-consecutive-hour period.
30-Minute Break
A property-carrying driver generally needs at least a 30-minute interruption after 8 cumulative hours of driving without such an interruption.
60/70-Hour Limit
Drivers are also subject to limits on on-duty time accumulated across multiple days.
10 Consecutive Hours Off
A property-carrying driver generally needs 10 consecutive hours off duty before starting a new period of up to 11 hours of driving.
34-Hour Restart
A driver may restart the 60/70-hour calculation after at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.
These limits work together.
Having time remaining on one HOS clock doesn't necessarily mean a driver can continue driving.
What Are Hours of Service Regulations?
HOS regulations establish limits and requirements governing the working and driving time of commercial motor vehicle drivers. At the federal level, HOS regulations are found primarily in Part 395 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). FMCSA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, develops and enforces these rules.
Why Do HOS Rules Exist?
The central purpose of HOS regulation is managing the safety risks associated with fatigue by limiting driving and working time and providing for periods of rest.
Driving vs. WorkingTime
Driving time and working time are not the same. A driver can be working without driving, which can still affect HOS.
Federal and State Rules
Federal HOS rules generally apply to interstate CMV operations. Intrastate operations may be governed by state requirements that are identical or similar to federal rules.
How Hours of Service Works
Think of HOS as overlapping limits, not one countdown timer.
11HOURS
11-HOUR DRIVING LIMIT
How much driving time is available.
14HOURS
14-HOUR DRIVING WINDOW
How much time remains in the duty window.
60/70HOURS
60/70-HOUR LIMIT
How much on-duty time is available across multiple days.
DRIVING
Operating the CMV.
ON DUTY
Working, but not driving.
OFF DUTY
Relieved from work and all duties.
SLEEPER BERTH
Qualifying sleeper berth off-duty time.
The Main HOS Rules
These are simplified summaries of the key HOS rules for property-carrying drivers. Exceptions may apply.
11HOURS
11-Hour Driving Limit
After 10 consecutive hours off duty, you may drive up to 11 hours.
Learn more +14HOURS
14-Hour Driving Window
You generally can't drive beyond the end of the 14-hour duty window.
Learn more +30MIN
30-Minute Break
A qualifying 30-minute break is required after 8 hours of driving.
Learn more +60/70HOURS
60/70-Hour Limit
On-duty time is limited to 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days.
Learn more +Sleeper Berth
Split your 10-hour break using the sleeper berth provision.
Learn more +34HOURS
34-Hour Restart
Take 34 consecutive hours off duty to restart the 60/70 hour clock.
Learn more +How the HOS Clocks WorkTogether
The example timeline on the right shows howrules interact during a sample day.
A driver must have time available under all applicable limits before continuing to drive.
6:00 AM
On Duty
Pre-trip & loading
7:00 AM
Driving
Begins
12:00 PM
5 hours
Driving Accumulated
12:00-12:30 PM
30-Minute Break
Not Driving
12:30 PM
Driving
Resumes
6:30 PM
11 Hours
Driving Reached
8:00 PM
14-Hour Window
Endpoint
11-HOUR DRIVING LIMIT
EXHAUSTED AT 6:30 PM
14-HOUR DRIVING WINDOW
EXPIRES AT 8:00 PM
60/70-HOUR LIMIT
DEPENDS ON PRIOR DAYS
Duty Status at a Glance
Understanding duty status is essential to applying HOS correctly.
| STATUS | WHAT IT GENERALLY MEANS | DRIVING? | WORK? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving | Operating the CMV. | Yes | YES |
| On Duty – Not Driving | Working or required to be ready to work, but not driving. | No | YES |
| Off Duty | Relieved from work and all duties and responsibility. | No | NO |
| Sleeper Berth | Qualifying sleeper berth time. (See sleeper berth provision.) | No | NO |
HOS Exceptions & Special Situations
Situations where different HOS rules may apply.
Short-Haul Exception
Extended radius and duty period.
Adverse Driving Conditions
Up to 2 additional hours of driving window.
Personal Conveyance
Personal use of the CMV.
Yard Move
Limited movement in yard or terminal.
16-Hour Short-Haul Exception
Short-haul under 16 hours.
Agricultural Operations
Specific agricultural operations.
ELDs & Driver Logs
HOS Compliance
HOS Violations
Hours of Service Examples
Common HOS Questions
A property-carrying driver may generally drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Driving must also fit inside the 14-hour window and the 60/70-hour limit.
The 14-hour window starts when a driver comes on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Breaks and most off-duty time inside the window do not pause it.
No. The 14-hour duty window is consecutive. Off-duty time, meals, and the 30-minute break generally do not stop or extend it.
A property-carrying driver generally may not drive after 8 cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption in driving.
Driving is time spent operating the CMV. On-duty time also includes loading, unloading, inspecting, waiting, and other work. Both can affect HOS clocks.
HOS FAQs
HOS stands for Hours of Service — the federal safety rules that limit when and how long certain commercial motor vehicle drivers may drive and work.
Federal Hours of Service rules are developed and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
No. The 11-hour rule limits driving time. The 14-hour rule is the consecutive window after coming on duty in which that driving must be completed.
You generally may not drive after the 14-hour window ends. Other on-duty work may still be possible, but it continues to count against weekly on-duty limits.
No. Loading is on-duty not driving, so it does not count against the 11-hour driving limit. It does count against the 14-hour window and the 60/70-hour limit.
TEST YOUR HOS KNOWLEDGE
Understanding the Rules Is One Thing. Applying Them Is Another.
The HOSOptima HOS Assessment gives you a way to test your understanding of Hours of Service concepts and identify areas where your knowledge may need strengthening.
Take the Free HOS AssessmentAbout This HOS Guide
This page is an educational overview of federal Hours of Service concepts, with an emphasis on property-carrying commercial motor vehicle operations.
Regulatory Foundation
Last regulatory review: September 1, 2026
HOSOptima provides educational information intended to help users better understand Hours of Service. This page isn't a substitute for applicable laws, regulations, official agency guidance or professional legal advice. When there is a difference between an educational explanation and an applicable regulation, the applicable regulation controls.