The Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are designed to ensure the safety of truck drivers and the public by limiting how long a driver can operate their vehicle. Enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the U.S., these rules aim to reduce driver fatigue, a leading cause of accidents.
Key components of HOS include the 11-hour driving limit, allowing drivers to be on the road for up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. There’s also a 14-hour limit, which restricts the total on-duty time to 14 hours before requiring a rest. Additionally, drivers must take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving.
Compliance with HOS is monitored through Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), which record driving time automatically. Violating these rules can result in fines, penalties, and increased risk of accidents, making them critical for both safety and legal compliance in the trucking industry.
