What Are the Hours-of-Service Limits for Truck Drivers?

Federal hours-of-service (HOS) rules cap how long commercial drivers can be on the road to fight fatigue — and they’re among the most important rules a driver lives by. The core limits: 11 hours driving, a 14-hour daily window, a 30-minute break, and a 60/70-hour weekly cap. Below is what each limit means, an everyday example of how they stack up in a real shift, the 2026 status, and the official source.

What the Law Says

The main limits under 49 CFR Part 395 are:

• 11-Hour Driving Limit — you may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-Hour Window — all driving must happen within a 14-hour on-duty window that starts the moment you begin any work (not just driving). The 14 hours don’t pause for breaks.
• 30-Minute Break — required after 8 cumulative hours of driving.
• Weekly Limits — you cannot drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. A 34-hour restart resets the weekly cycle.

An Everyday Example

You clock in at 6:00 a.m. and do an hour of loading, then start driving. Your 14-hour window now ends at 8:00 p.m. — no matter how many breaks you take, you cannot drive after 8:00 p.m. that day. Within that window you can drive up to 11 hours total, and you must take your 30-minute break before hitting 8 hours of driving. To reset, you need 10 consecutive hours off.

A Note on 2026 Changes

The HOS limits themselves are unchanged from the 2020 final rule. In 2026, FMCSA is running small pilot programs (Flexible Sleeper Berth and Split Duty Period) to test more flexibility — but those are tests, not law yet. The 11-hour / 14-hour / 30-minute / 60-70 limits remain the rule.

What This Means for You

If you drive a commercial vehicle, these numbers govern your day. Logging is enforced electronically (ELDs), so accuracy matters. The full regulation is public — the official FMCSA summary and the CFR text are linked above.