Ever wonder what the rules are for how many hours truck drivers can drive every day? If you’ve seen big rigs out on the open road day and night, you might think there are no limits. But there are regulations in place to make sure tired truckers aren’t driving for dangerously long stretches. For anyone curious about how the trucking industry keeps drivers and everyone else sharing the road safe, Our article here at Talking Tradesmen, we will break down the legal limits on driving hours. You’ll learn the daily max, rules for rest breaks, how teams of drivers handle longer hauls, and what truckers have to log to stay compliant. It’s an inside look at some guidelines you’ve probably seen in action without even realizing it.
Federal Regulations on Truck Driver Hours
The 14-Hour Rule
You’ve probably heard that truck drivers can only drive for a certain number of hours per day. But what exactly are the rules around that? The main one is called the 14-hour rule.
This means that once a driver starts their day, they have a 14-hour window to complete all their driving. After those 14 hours are up, they can’t drive again until they take a 10-hour break. Pretty straightforward, right?
The 11-Hour Driving Limit
But wait, there’s more! Within those 14 hours, drivers are only allowed to drive for a maximum of 11 hours. The other 3 hours are for tasks like loading/unloading, inspections, breaks, etc.
So in an ideal scenario, a driver could work a full 14-hour day with 11 hours of driving time. But realistically, there’s a lot that can delay or extend their day beyond just driving.
Taking Required Breaks
Speaking of breaks, drivers also have to follow strict rules on when and how often they take breaks from driving. After driving for 8 hours, they must take a 30-minute break before continuing.
These half-hour breaks are crucial for staying alert and avoiding fatigue on the road. So even if they still have time left in that 11-hour driving window, they legally can’t keep going until they’ve had that mandated rest period.
Weekly Limits
It’s not just about daily limits either. There are also caps on how many hours truckers can work over a 7 or 8-day period. Drivers are restricted to:
- 60 hours of driving over 7 days
- 70 hours of driving over 8 days
Once they hit that weekly limit, they have to take a 34-hour restart break before they can start a new 7 or 8-day cycle. No exceptions!
Daily Driving Limits for Truckers
Hourly Driving Limits
The number of hours truck drivers can spend behind the wheel each day is tightly regulated. You’re limited to driving a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Once you hit that 11-hour driving limit, you have to take another 10-hour break before driving again.
For example, if you start your day at 6 am after being off for 10 hours, you can drive up to 5 pm before having to take another 10-hour break. Those 11 hours don’t need to be consecutive – you can split up the driving with rest breaks in between. But the total driving can’t exceed 11 hours before that next long 10-hour break.
14-Hour Workday Limit
In addition to the 11-hour driving limit, there’s a 14-hour overall workday limit after coming on duty. So even if you take breaks from driving to rest or do other work, you have to go fully off duty after 14 hours.
Let’s say you came on duty at 6 am. You’d have to go fully off duty by 8 pm that same day, even if you took enough breaks to have driving time remaining before hitting the 11-hour driving limit.
Restart Break
To reset your available driving and workday limits, you need to take at least 34 consecutive hours off duty. This “restart” break allows you to start a new period with your full daily limits renewed.
Many drivers use this restart strategically. For example, you could drive from Monday through Friday, then take a 34-hour restart before starting up again the following week.
So in summary, the key limits are 11 hours of driving, a 14-hour workday, with a 34-hour restart required between workweeks. Knowing these hourly regulations for truckers is crucial for planning routes, taking required breaks, and operating safely on the road.
Weekly Driving Limits
60/70-Hour Duty Limit
The main weekly limit for truck drivers is the 60/70-hour duty limit. You can only drive up to 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. After hitting this cap, you’ll need to take a 34-hour restart before driving again.
Essentially, this rule prevents you from working extremely long weeks by enforcing downtime. It ensures you get adequate rest to stay alert on the roads.
Resetting the 60/70 Clock
To reset or restart the 60 or 70-hour clock, you need to go off-duty for at least 34 consecutive hours. This extended break provides enough time to get proper sleep and recharge. The 34-hour reset gives you a fresh slate for the new week or period.
Once that 34-hour break is over, the clock resets and you can start a new 60 or 70-hour driving period. Just remember, you can’t use this restart more than once per week (168 hours). Strategically using this restart is key for maximizing your available driving hours.
Exceptions and Tactics
There are a couple of exceptions to note with the weekly limits:
- Short haul drivers have more flexibility, with different rules for the 60/70 limits.
- Drivers in certain areas like Alaska have revised limits to account for remote locations.
Smart drivers also use tactics like sleeper berth periods to extend their available hours. Taking an 8-hour/2-hour split sleeper allows you to essentially “pause” the 14-hour driving window. Understanding these rules is crucial for working as many hours as legally allowed.
Rest Requirements Between Shifts
Time to Recharge
You’ve been hauling loads for hours on end. Your eyes are getting heavy and your focus is waning. It’s time for a break – not just a quick stop, but a real chance to recharge. The rules around rest periods are crucial for truckers to avoid fatigue and stay safe on the roads.
Federal regulations require drivers to take an extended rest break after being on duty for a certain period. After maxing out their driving hours, truckers must pull over and rest for a minimum of 10 consecutive off-duty hours. This “restart” allows them to get proper sleep and be fully alert before getting back behind the wheel.
Quality Downtime is Key
But simply stopping the clock isn’t enough – how you spend that reset matters too. Catching some ZZZs in your cab doesn’t quite cut it. The rules specify that the 10-hour break must include two periods:
- At least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth
- Plus a minimum of 3 additional hours off-duty or in the sleeper (can be split)
The logic is that real quality rest, including both sleep and awake downtime, is needed to be truly refreshed for the next long haul. Skimp on either portion and you could still be running on fumes when it’s time to roll again.
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How Many Hours Can a Truck Driver Drive
One more rule to keep in mind – after taking that extended 10-hour break, you can’t immediately max out your driving hours again. There’s a safeguard baked in to prevent pushing too hard for too long.
Specifically, after your restart, you can only drive up to 11 hours during the following 14-hour window. Then you’ll need to take another 10-hour break, and the cycle continues. This cadence ensures truckers always get decent downtime between those marathon stretches behind the wheel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Hours Can A Truck Driver Drive?
Truck drivers can drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour workday after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
What Is The 14-Hour Rule For Truck Drivers?
The 14-hour rule states that drivers have a 14-hour window to complete all driving and work tasks before taking a 10-hour break.
What Are The Weekly Driving Limits For Truck Drivers?
Truck drivers can drive up to 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, requiring a 34-hour restart break after hitting these limits.
What Are The Break Requirements For Truck Drivers?
Truck drivers must take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 hours and a 10-hour rest break after a 14-hour workday.
How Does The 34-Hour Restart Rule Work?
The 34-hour restart rule allows truck drivers to reset their weekly driving limits after taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.
