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Hours of service for property carriers: 11, 14, 30 and 60/70

Helm PartnersUpdated Nov 4, 2026Sources checked Nov 4, 2026

This guide is general information, not advice on any policy.

Short answer

A property-carrying driver needs 10 hours off duty before driving, may then drive up to 11 hours, and may not drive after the 14th hour since coming on duty. A 30-minute break is required after 8 hours of driving. Weekly, driving stops at 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 in 8, until a 34-hour restart (49 CFR 395.3).

In this guide
  • The daily limits
  • The 30-minute break
  • The 60 and 70-hour limits
  • The 34-hour restart
  • Sleeper berth splits
  • Adverse driving conditions
  • Short-haul drivers
  • A dispatch checklist
  • FAQ

Hours of service set how long a driver may drive and work. These are the federal rules for property-carrying trucks in interstate commerce, read from the current eCFR. Passenger carriers have different limits.

The daily limits

  • 10 hours off. A driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)(1)).
  • 14-hour window. No driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. Breaks do not extend it.
  • 11 hours of driving within that window.

The 30-minute break

Driving stops once 8 hours of driving time have passed without a 30-minute interruption. The 30 minutes can be off duty, sleeper berth, on-duty not driving, or a mix (395.3(a)(3)(ii)). Fueling or a loading dock wait counts if the driver is not driving.

The 60 and 70-hour limits

  • 60 hours in 7 days if the carrier does not run trucks every day of the week.
  • 70 hours in 8 days if it does (395.3(b)).

These limits count all on-duty time, not just driving. Loading, inspections, fueling and paperwork count too.

The 34-hour restart

The 7 or 8 day period can end with the start of 34 or more consecutive hours off duty (395.3(c)).

Sleeper berth splits

A driver in a sleeper berth truck can meet the 10 hours off with two periods: one of at least 7 consecutive hours in the berth and one of at least 2 hours, totaling at least 10 (395.1(g)). Neither period counts against the 14-hour window when the split is done correctly.

Adverse driving conditions

When unexpected conditions such as snow or a road closure stop a driver from finishing the run within the limits, the driver may drive up to 2 more hours to finish the run or reach a safe place (395.1(b)(1)).

Short-haul drivers

Drivers who stay within 150 air miles of their work reporting location and are released within 14 hours can keep time records instead of logs (395.1(e)(1)). See the 150 air-mile short-haul exception. Everyone else records duty status, usually on an ELD: see ELD rules for small fleets.

A dispatch checklist

  1. Know whether your fleet is on the 60/7 or 70/8 schedule.
  2. Plan loads so the 14-hour window covers loading and detention time.
  3. Check each driver's available hours before assigning a load.
  4. Plan the 30-minute break into long runs.
  5. Review logs for form and manner errors and violations every week.
  6. Coach drivers early: hours violations feed CSA BASICs for small fleets and are part of what underwriters look at in a trucking fleet.

Related: driver qualification file checklist, dry van trucking insurance requirements and all fleet trucking guides.

FAQ

How many hours can a truck driver drive in a day?

Up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and no driving after the 14th consecutive hour since coming on duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)).

Does the 30-minute break have to be off duty?

No. Since 2020 the break can be off duty, sleeper berth, on-duty not driving, or a mix, as long as it is 30 consecutive minutes without driving. It is required once a driver has 8 cumulative hours of driving (395.3(a)(3)(ii)).

When does a fleet use the 60-hour or the 70-hour limit?

The 60 hours in 7 days limit applies if the carrier does not operate trucks every day of the week. The 70 hours in 8 days limit applies if it does (395.3(b)).

How does the 34-hour restart work?

Any 7 or 8 day period may end with the start of an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours, so the weekly count starts again after it (395.3(c)).

Can a driver split the 10-hour break?

Yes, in a sleeper berth truck. One period must be at least 7 consecutive hours in the berth, the other at least 2 hours, totaling at least 10 (395.1(g)(1)(ii)).

This guide is general information, not advice on any policy. For your own operation, check the rules linked below or ask FMCSA.

Sources