Today we're going to be discussing the basic hours of service rules.

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As a truck driver, it's important to understand the basic hours of service rules and how they apply to you.

Here is a brief overview of the H.O.S. regulations that will have a direct impact on your driving and rest schedules:

11 Hour Rule: The 11-hour rule limits the amount of time you can drive in a single shift. According to this rule, you can only drive a maximum of 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off-duty.

14 Hour Rule:The 14-hour rule limits the total amount of time you can work in a single work period.

You can only work for a maximum of 14 hours after coming on-duty, regardless of how many hours you spend driving. Once you reach the 14-hour limit, you must take 10 consecutive hours off-duty before beginning your next shift.

It's important to note that the 14-hour limit is separate from the 11-hour driving limit. Even if you haven't driven for the full 11 hours, you must still stop working after 14 hours on-duty.

8-hour Rule:The 8-hour rule limits the amount of time you can drive before taking a break.

According to this rule, you are required to take a break of at least 30 minutes after driving for a period of 8 hours. You can take this required break in sleeper berth, off-duty or on-duty not driving status or any combo of the three.

The purpose of the 8-hour DOT hours of service rule is to prevent fatigue and ensure that you have enough time to rest and recharge during long shifts. By taking regular breaks, you can reduce the risk of accidents caused by fatigue and maintain your alertness while on the road.

60 or 70 Hour Limit: The 60 or 70 hour rule limits the amount of time you can drive during a 7 or 8 day period. According to this rule, you are not allowed to work more than 60 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days if your company doesn’t operate trucks every day of the week.

If your company operates trucks every day, this limit is increased to 70 hours in a period of 8 consecutive days. The purpose of this rule is to prevent fatigue and ensure that you have enough time to rest and recharge between work periods.

34 Hour Reset Provision:The 34-hour reset HOS provision allows you to reset your weekly work hours to 0.

This rule allows you to take a continuous 34-hour break in order to reset your work week and start a new 7 or 8-day work period.

The purpose of the provision is to provide you with adequate time to rest and recharge after a busy week on the road. Since hours worked drop off on a rolling basis, using the 34-hour re-set is not mandatory.

But you must take a full 34 hours off duty or in the sleeper berth in order to totally reset your weekly driving clock.

Hopefully, this brief overview of the DOT hours of servce rules gives you a good idea of the basic hours regulations that US truck drivers must obey.

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