DOT Hours of Service Calculator
Enter when your shift started and how long you have driven to see how much driving time you have left under the federal hours of service rules, and which limit you will hit first. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
- 11-hour driving limit
- 14-hour on-duty window
- 30-minute break rule
- 60/70-hour weekly cycle
FMCSA hours of service rules at a glance
| Rule | Property-carrying drivers | Passenger-carrying drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Off-duty time before a shift | 10 consecutive hours | 8 consecutive hours |
| Driving limit | 11 hours | 10 hours |
| On-duty window | No driving after the 14th hour on duty (clock time) | No driving after 15 hours on duty |
| Rest break | 30 minutes after 8 cumulative hours of driving | Not required |
| Weekly limit | 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days; a 34-hour off-duty period restarts the cycle (property carriers) | |
How this calculator works
The calculator checks each limit separately and shows the one you will reach first:
- Driving limit: 11 hours (10 for passenger carriers) minus the time you have already driven this shift.
- On-duty window: 14 hours (15 for passenger carriers) counted on the clock from your shift start. Breaks do not stop this clock.
- 30-minute break: property-carrying drivers must stop driving for 30 minutes once they have driven 8 hours without such a break.
- Weekly cycle: 60 or 70 hours minus the on-duty time you have logged in the last 7 or 8 days.
It does not model the split sleeper berth provision, the 150 air-mile short-haul exception, agricultural or other industry exemptions, or state rules for intrastate drivers. Your ELD remains the official record of duty status.
Why hours of service matter in truck accident cases
Hours of service limits exist because tired drivers react more slowly and are more likely to crash. After a serious truck accident, investigators and attorneys often compare the driver's electronic logging device (ELD) records with fuel receipts, GPS data and delivery records to see whether the driver was over the limit. A violation can be strong evidence that the driver, and sometimes the trucking company that set the schedule, was negligent.
Carriers generally only have to keep records of duty status for six months, so this evidence can disappear quickly. Read more about fatigued truck driver accidents, or check your state's filing deadline with the statute of limitations calculator.
Official source: FMCSA Hours of Service.
Hours of service FAQs
What are the DOT hours of service rules for truck drivers?
For property-carrying drivers, FMCSA rules allow up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and no driving after the 14th hour since coming on duty. A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving, and drivers may not drive after 60 on-duty hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. A 34-hour off-duty period restarts the 7/8-day cycle.
Does the 14-hour window stop when I take a break?
No. The 14-hour window runs on the clock from the moment you start work after 10 hours off. Lunch, fuel stops and off-duty breaks do not pause it. The only common way to pause it is a qualifying sleeper berth period under the split sleeper berth rule.
What counts as the 30-minute break?
Any 30 consecutive minutes not spent driving: off duty, in the sleeper berth or on duty not driving (for example fueling or loading). It is required once a driver has driven for 8 cumulative hours without such an interruption. Short-haul drivers using the 150 air-mile exception are exempt.
What is the 34-hour restart?
A driver may restart the 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day cycle by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty. After the restart, the weekly on-duty clock goes back to zero.
What is the adverse driving conditions exception?
If a driver runs into unexpected adverse conditions, such as snow, fog or a crash blocking the road, that were not known when the trip started, property carriers may extend both the 11-hour driving limit and the 14-hour window by up to 2 hours.
Are the rules different for bus and passenger drivers?
Yes. Passenger-carrying drivers may drive up to 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty and may not drive after 15 hours on duty. The 60/70-hour weekly limits also apply, but there is no 30-minute break rule.
Why do hours of service matter after a truck accident?
Driver fatigue is a recognized cause of serious truck crashes. Electronic logging device (ELD) records show whether a driver exceeded the hours of service limits, and a violation can be important evidence of negligence. Carriers only have to keep these records for about six months, so they should be requested quickly after a crash.