The five limits
| Limit | Rule |
|---|---|
| 11 hours · Driving limit Up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. | §395.3(a)(3) |
| 14 hours · On-duty window No driving after the 14th hour since coming on duty. Breaks do not stop the clock. | §395.3(a)(2) |
| 30 minutes · Break A 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Off duty, sleeper berth or on-duty not driving all count. | §395.3(a)(3)(ii) |
| 60 / 70 hours · Weekly limit No driving after 60 on-duty hours in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days. | §395.3(b) |
| 34 hours · Restart 34 or more consecutive hours off duty restart the 7- or 8-day count. | §395.3(c) |
Exceptions that change the math
- Sleeper berth split: the 10 hours off can be split into at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and a separate period of at least 2 hours, such as 8/2 or 7/3. Neither period counts against the 14-hour window. §395.1(g)
- Adverse driving conditions: up to 2 extra hours to finish the run or reach safety, but only for weather or road conditions the driver and dispatcher could not have known about at dispatch. The log should say what happened. Winter rules. §395.1(b)
- Short haul, 150 air miles: a driver who stays within 150 air miles of the normal work reporting location and is released within 14 hours does not need a log or ELD. The carrier still keeps time records. §395.1(e)(1)
- 16-hour exception: a driver who was released at the normal work reporting location for the previous 5 duty tours, and is released there within 16 hours today, can stretch the 14-hour window to 16. Once every 7 days, unless a 34-hour restart came in between. §395.1(o)
When the ELD fails
- The driver notes the malfunction and tells the carrier in writing within 24 hours.
- The driver rebuilds the current day and the previous 7 days on paper and keeps a paper log until the device is fixed.
- The carrier repairs or replaces the ELD within 8 days, or asks FMCSA for more time within 5 days.
Check that your device is still on FMCSA's list of registered ELDs. Devices removed from the list have to be replaced by the deadline in FMCSA's notice. More in our ELD rules guide.
Records
Keep each driver's records of duty status and the supporting documents behind them (fuel receipts, bills of lading, dispatch records) for at least 6 months. In an audit, these are compared against each other line by line. §395.8(k)
Logs checked before an auditor does
We review your drivers' logs against fuel receipts and dispatch records, flag violations and false logs, and keep the six months on file. Start with a free review.
Source: 49 CFR 395.1, 395.3, 395.8, 395.34. Federal rules for interstate property carriers; some states have different intrastate rules. General information, not legal advice. IFTAX is not affiliated with FMCSA or any government agency.