Interstate Truck Drivers Guide To Hours Of Service

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (also known as FMCSA in the auto transport industry) has established guidelines for truck drivers regarding the hours they can drive on the roads. They are restricted from doing what they like for their safety and that of the public. It was put succinctly by the FMCSA:

As the truck's driver, you are responsible for the safety of the passengers and the trucks. Safety is the main concern. Safety is the biggest concern. These regulations set limits on how long and when you can drive. The idea is that this will ensure that you are awake and alert while driving.

FM Rules Susceptible to Auto Transport Trucks

If a truck weighs more than 10,000 pounds and is hauling commercial loads interstate, it must comply with the United States Department of Transportation rules. Trucks that operate within one state are considered intrastate and do not have to conform with federal regulations. The majority of car shipments cross state borders and the truck driver must comply with interstate regulations.

What are the Basic Hours of Service Limits?

There are three basic rules that all people can understand. The lawyers will then be there to help you understand it in this and that way, as well as the exceptions to this and that rule. You need a scorecard because no one reads Shakespeare anymore (check out his advice about lawyers). There's plenty of room for maneuverability to make it work in almost any situation. These are the main rules of the FMCSA as outlined in the FMCSA Interstate Truck Driver’s Guide to Hours of Service.

Rule 1 - The 14-hour duty limit

This limit is often referred to as a "daily limit", even though it does not apply to a 24-hour period. After being off duty for more than 10 consecutive hours, you are permitted a 14-hour period of duty. When you begin any type of work, the 14-hour duty period starts. After the 14-hour duty period has ended, you can no longer drive until you've been off duty for 10 consecutive hours.

You are restricted to driving within the 14-hour period, even if you take a break or a nap during those 14 hours.

Example: After 10 hours of continuous work, you arrive at work at 6:00 AM. After 8:00 p.m. in the evening, you must not drive your truck. After 8:00 p.m. you can do some other work, but no more driving after you have had 10 hours of uninterrupted rest.

 

Rule #2 - The 11-hour driving limit

You are limited to driving your truck for a maximum of 11 hours during the 14-hour-consecutive duty period. You are permitted to drive your truck for up to 11 hours at a time. This is regardless of how long you drive. After driving for 11 hours, your driving limit is reached. You must then be off duty for 10 consecutive hours before you can drive your truck again.

Example: 10 consecutive hours of off. You must arrive at work at 6:00 am and drive between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm. After you have had at least 10 hours off, you cannot drive again. After 6:00 pm, you can do some other work but cannot drive a commercial motor vehicle.

Rule 3 - The 60/70 hour duty limit

"In addition to the first two limits, as explained above, there is also the 60/70-hour limitation. This limit is calculated on a 7-day or 8-day period. It starts at the time your motor carrier specifies for the start of a 24-hour period. This limit can sometimes be referred to as a "weekly limit".

This limit does not apply to a week that is "set", such as Sunday through Saturday. The limit is calculated based on a rolling or floating 7-day or eight-day period. When you subtract the on-duty hours for the previous 7 or 8 days, the oldest day's hours are taken off. If you have a schedule of 70 hours/8 days, the current day will be the newest of your 8-day period. Hours worked nine days ago would also drop out of the calculation.

DAY HOUR
1. Sunday 0
2. Monday, 10
3. Tuesday, 8.5
4. Wednesday 12.5
5. Thursday, 9
6. Friday, 10
7. Saturday, 12
8. Sunday, 5
TOTAL 67 Hours

These are the "weekly" limits you must follow:

You are not permitted to drive if your company doesn't operate vehicles every day. After you've reached the 60-hour limit, your driving hours will be reduced to 60 for each 7-day period. While you can do some other work, you cannot drive again until you have been off duty for enough days to reach the limit. You must add any additional hours that you work for motor carriers or other people to your total.

Your employer may give you a schedule that is 70 hours per day if your company operates vehicles every day of a week. You are prohibited from driving after you have worked for 70 hours or more in any eight consecutive days. After you've reached the 70-hour limit, driving again is prohibited until your hours have fallen below 70 for 8 consecutive days. While you can do some other work, you are not allowed to drive any further until you reach the limit. You must add any additional hours that you work for another motor carrier or other person to your total.

34-Hour Restart

After you have been off duty for at least 34 hours consecutively, the regulations allow you "restart" your 60- or 70-hour clock calculations. This means that you can "restart" your 60- or 70-hour clock once you have taken at most 34 consecutive hours off duty. Then, you would start counting hours from the day of the restart. You won't go back for 7 or 8 days.

Example: You will be on duty for 70 hours if you work for the 70-hour/8 day limit and 14 hours consecutively for five days. After you have worked less than 70 hours in an eight-day period, you will not be allowed to drive again. If your company allows you the 34-hour restart provision, then you will have driving time immediately after you've been off duty for 34 hours. The new period would be 8 days in length and you would have 70 hours of driving time.

Move Car Auto Transport's 4 Suggestions

FMCSA tried to protect the truck driver from their own actions by establishing three basic rules. The FMCSA understands that time is money, and truck drivers who drive auto transport trucks are hardworking people who will do anything to support their families. They do a lot of hard and grueling work. You don't have to believe so. You can drive your luxurious sedan for 500 miles in one day, and your back and brain will be sore. You can rest it and then get up again. Continue to do it. Do not stop there. You must continue to Baltimore. It's difficult, brothers and sisters. FMCSA has established rules to protect auto transport truck drivers from their bosses and those who might try to push them too far.

The FMCSA rules protect the public. These are Move Car Auto Transport's four tips for how to treat a truck driver when you deliver your vehicle.

1. Be punctual, even if the driver doesn't. There are many customers he has to meet, and any one of them could throw off his schedule by arriving late or not prepared. Failure to have enough cash or money order to cover the balance. Your understanding of the time constraints will be appreciated by the driver. He will not feel sorry if you are late.

2. Please smile and be kind. The auto transport driver performed a service for your vehicle and it is possible that he or she had a more difficult day than you. Honey is better than vinegar. A smile can go a long distance.

3. Although he/she is receiving payment for their service, it would be a good idea to thank them. It's important to have dignity when doing work. Respect for a job well performed is also important. It is a great gesture to say thank you.

4. Waiters and waitresses get tipped for their hard work and good service. Do you think that an auto transport driver who took care of your vehicle for several hundred miles or even thousands of miles deserves a little more? It doesn't have to be that way, but it's a good idea to show some green and be cool about it. It's good Kharma, and what goes around comes around.