DOT DRIVING HOURS – WHAT IS THE 16 HOUR AND 14 HOUR RULE?

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) set hours of service (HOS) standards to make sure drivers are rested, awake, and paying attention. These standards are effective safety compliance processes. It is suggested that you keep track of your HOS throughout your trip, as it takes a lot of time.

Both drivers and people in charge of a fleet need to know these rules. Because of new electronic logging device (ELD) laws, many companies are looking over HOS rules to better understand the changes and exceptions to the detailed rules for when drivers can be on the road. This is because ELD laws are changing how drivers keep track of their record of duty status.

There are a few exceptions to the drive times that can be very helpful for drivers whose regular trips require them to take extra steps. Let’s look at the HOS laws so you know how to follow the DOT’s rules about driving hours and other rules.

What do DOT Driving Hours mean?

There are rules from the DOT about how many hours a professional truck driver can work and drive each day and week. Following these rules limits how long drivers can be behind the wheel, with required breaks to make sure they’re fully rested before starting a new job.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) keeps a close eye on drive time and will punish anyone who doesn’t follow hours of service rules. People who drive commercial vehicles across state lines and whose gross vehicle weight rating (from the manufacturer) is more than 10,001 pounds must follow HOS rules.

What does “On Duty Time” mean?

Semi-drivers’ HOS is based on the time they spend on duty. Take the number of hours working or ready to work by the truck driver to figure out the on-duty time. All of this time includes the things the driver does, such as the ones below:

Getting Around
Maintenance, service, and check-ups on the truck
As they wait in line to be sent by the carrier
Putting things on or off the truck
Putting together package paperwork
Putting together repairs
Taking drug and drink tests for jobs
The messenger has to do extra work
All time spent in the truck is counted as on-duty time, but not:

On-duty time includes all time spent in the truck, excluding:

When sitting in a parked car
While sleeping in a sleeper berth
When sitting in the passenger seat of a property-carrying vehicle (for up to two hours [according to specific circumstances])

Why are there DOT driving hours?

The goal of HOS rules is to help truck drivers do their jobs better by making sure they get enough rest and pay attention. These rules also keep long-haul drivers and other drivers safe from accidents that could be very bad.

To keep the roads safe, it’s important to keep cars interested and ready to go. When your company makes sure that all of its trucks meet all FMCSA HOS requirements, it increases driver safety and lowers overall risk.

Who Has to Follow DOT’s Driving Hours?

The Hours of Service (HOS) law applies to all drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States, whether they are from within the country or from Canada or Mexico. If any of the following are true about a car, with or without a trailer, it is a CMV:

Any weight over 10,000 pounds
The gross weight of the car or the gross weight of the combination must be at least 10,001 pounds.
Moving dangerous goods in large enough amounts that signs are needed
Made for or used to carry 16 or more people, including the driver, for free
Was designed to carry nine or more people, including the driver, and comes with a pay Time card that says “Dot Driving Hours of Service” above it.

Driving Hours of Service from the DOT

It’s important that you fully understand the HOS rules before you hit the road.

DOT Rule for 14 Hours

If a property-carrying driver comes back to work after being off for 10 hours in a row, they are not allowed to drive for another 14 hours.

This daily limit is meant to keep drivers from getting too tired by reducing the number of hours they can work in a day. It includes driving, breaks for rest, and different times when you are not working, like lunch breaks, required rest periods, and so on. The driver can still drive during this 14-hour time even if they take a break or nap.

DOT Rule for 16 Hours

In relation to the 14-hour rule, the DOT 16-hour rule lets drivers work two more hours on top of their 14-hour workweek in some situations. There is one exception to this rule, but it still doesn’t let a driver drive more than 11 hours a day. In a work week, the DOT 16-hour rule can be used once every 34-hour restart cycle.

People who started and finished their workdays in the same area for the last five workdays are exempt from this rule. This type of driver is called a short-haul driver because they work in the same area every day. Under the 16-hour DOT rule, the driver can stay on duty for two more hours, but they have to leave right away after the 16th hour.

Other DOT Rules for Driving

Besides these DOT HOS rules, you should also be aware of other DOT driving restrictions, such as DOT tire rules and other jobs that need to be done quickly.

Let’s look at three more DOT rules for safe driving on the highway:

Over 60 or 70 hours: Truck drivers who don’t work every day can’t drive again for seven days after working 60 hours. If they work eight days in a row and drive every day, they can’t drive after 70 hours on duty. In either case, the driver can start the seven- or eight-day time after being off duty for 34 hours in a row.
34-hour reset: Truck drivers can go back to working 60 or 70 hours after 34 hours of uninterrupted time off. They can start the new work week after putting the clock back with the time off. During the restart time, the driver may do things on duty besides driving, such as filling out paperwork and loading and unloading cargo.
1-hour/10-hour rule: Property-carrying drivers can be off duty for 10 hours in a row, but they can be back on the road for up to 11 hours in a row within a 14-hour time. Truck drivers who carry people are only allowed to drive for 10 hours after being off duty for eight hours in a row.

The DOT made these rules to make sure that truckers can keep track of their work-life balance while doing their jobs.