The hours-of-service rules don’t limit how much work a driver can do, but they do prevent drivers from driving once the limits are reached. There are limits that measure the total hours of on-duty or work time and when the driver’s duty day begins. There are also limits that track how many hours of driving have occurred.
The four hours-of-service limits include:
- 14-hour (on-duty) limit,
- 11-hour (driving) limit,
- 60- and 70-hour (on-duty) limit, and
- Interruption of driving provision (8-hour driving limit).
There are also two rules ensuring drivers have enough off-duty or non-working time between cycles of work.
- Consecutive 10-hours off-duty before starting a new on-duty period that will include driving, and
- Consecutive 30-minute interruption of driving requirement.
The limits, rules, or “clocks” as they are referred to, track either a consecutive or a cumulative period of time. The terms limits, rules, and clocks are used interchangeably depending on who you’re talking to, but they all mean the same thing. A consecutive clock doesn’t stop and start. It’s like a timer for a race, the clock keeps ticking until the last racer is finished. A cumulative clock on the other hand can start and stop numerous times because it’s timing a specific activity, not how long ago since the activity started. A football game clock is a good example of a cumulative clock. It allows exactly one hour of game time, although that time may be spread out over the course of several hours.
When your livelihood depends on driving a commercial vehicle, it’s best to know when you can’t. Drivers need to understand how all the limits or clocks work together, so they aren’t operating a commercial vehicle when they are fatigued.
Hours of Service Training: Limits is designed to help drivers avoid operating a commercial motor vehicle when fatigued and comply with the hours-of-service limits by ensuring they understand how each of the limits or clocks work together. It will also help them to know when to take a break and when to rest to restart their hours.
After completing this training, learners will be able to:
- Recognize how fatigue requires drivers to stop driving even if they have hours left to legally operate
- Identify off-duty activities that qualify as a 10-hour break
- Describe how the 14-hour limit is calculated
- Identify which duty status the 11-hour limit tracks
- Determine when to use the 60- or 70-hour limit
- Identify an exception which resets the 60- or 70-hour limit
- Explain how to satisfy the 30-minute break required under the interruption of driving provision
- Differentiate between cumulative and consecutive limits
The J. J. Keller Hours of Service Training: Limits training program covers the following topics:
Ill or Fatigued Operator
- Types and Causes of Fatigue
- Regulations Prohibit Fatigued Operation
- The Driver Is the Captain
- The Carrier Should Know When Fatigue is Likely (examples)
10-Hour Clock (Off-Duty)
- What Is the 10-Hour Clock?
14-Hour (On-Duty) Limit
- What Is the 14-Hour Limit?
- Time Used and Time Available (Example
11-Hour (Driving) Limit
- What Is the 11-Hour Limit?
- Time Used and Time Available (Example)
60- and 70-Hour (On-Duty) Limit
- What Is the 60- and 70-Hour Limit?
- Time Used and Time Available (Example)
Interruption of Driving
- What Is Interruption of Driving?
- Time Used and Time Available
- Exceptions (brief)
34-Hour Restart
- What Is the 34-Hour Restart?
- Restarts are not Mandatory
Intended Audience: Property-Carrying CMV Drivers
Regulations Covered: 49 CFR Part 395
Copyright Date: 2020
Language: Available in English or Spanish
Course Length:
- Online Course Length: ;30 minutes
- Video Program Running Time: 20:28
Product Codes:
- Online Course - English: 61326
- Online Course - Spanish: 61327
- Video Program - English: 61342
- Video Program - Spanish: 61343
