What Are HOS Regulations?
Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are federal rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that limit how many hours a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver can drive and work in a given day and week. These rules exist to prevent fatigue-related accidents — one of the leading causes of commercial vehicle crashes.
Violations of HOS regulations can result in out-of-service orders (your truck gets parked), fines ranging from $1,000 to $16,000 per violation, negative CSA score impacts, and in severe cases, carrier operating authority revocation.
The Core HOS Rules
After 10 consecutive hours off duty, you may drive a maximum of 11 hours before you must take another 10 consecutive hours off duty.
You may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time during the day does not extend the 14-hour window — once the clock starts, it runs continuously.
If you have driven for a cumulative period of 8 hours without at least a 30-minute interruption, you must take a 30-minute break before driving again. The break can be spent in off-duty or sleeper-berth status.
You may not drive after being on duty for 60 hours in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. Most carriers operate on the 70/8 cycle. A 34-hour restart (34 consecutive hours off duty) resets your weekly clock back to zero.
Sleeper Berth Provision
Drivers using a vehicle equipped with a sleeper berth may split their required 10-hour off-duty period into two periods:
- One period of at least 7 consecutive hours spent in the sleeper berth
- A second period of at least 2 consecutive hours spent either off duty or in the sleeper berth
Neither period counts against the 14-hour driving window when used properly. This provision gives team drivers and long-haul operators more flexibility in managing their rest.
Adverse Driving Conditions Exception
Drivers who encounter adverse driving conditions (snow, ice, sleet, fog, or other conditions that were not foreseeable before the trip began) may extend both the 11-hour driving limit and the 14-hour on-duty window by up to 2 hours. This gives drivers extra time to find safe parking or complete their trip safely, rather than being forced to stop on the shoulder of a highway in dangerous conditions.
Short-Haul Exception
Drivers who operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their work reporting location and return to that location within 14 hours may qualify for the short-haul exception. This exception:
- Eliminates the requirement to use an ELD
- Eliminates the requirement to prepare a record of duty status (logbook)
- Requires only a time card to track start/end times
The driver must not exceed the 11-hour driving limit or 14-hour on-duty window under this exception.
ELD Requirements
Since December 2019, the FMCSA requires most CMV drivers to use a registered Electronic Logging Device (ELD) to record their hours of service. Paper logs are no longer accepted for most drivers.
An ELD automatically records driving time by connecting to the vehicle's engine. This prevents manual log errors, makes falsification much harder, and keeps accurate records available for roadside inspection.
ERETH ELD (Registration ID: ERS238) is FMCSA-registered and integrates directly with VAU0 Portal. It automatically tracks HOS, generates violation alerts, and supports DOT inspection transfer mode.
Common HOS Violations and Fines
| Violation | Federal Fine Range |
|---|---|
| Exceeding 11-hour driving limit | $1,000 — $16,000 |
| Exceeding 14-hour on-duty window | $1,000 — $16,000 |
| Failing to use an ELD when required | $1,000 — $16,000 |
| Form and manner violations (incomplete logs) | Up to $1,000 |
| Falsifying ELD records | Up to $16,000 |
| Failure to retain ELD records (6 months) | Up to $16,000 |
VAU0 Portal automatically tracks your drivers' HOS through ERETH ELD integration. Get real-time violation alerts, automated logs, and FMCSA-compliant records — free through December 2026.