Hours of Service (DOT/NSC) Simple Guide - Getting Started

After reading this guide, you'll have all the basic understanding to dive deeper into the details around Hours-of-Service.

Learn more about whether you need ELDs here: ELDs at Do You Need ELDs? Rules & Exemptions

Hours of Service Duty Statuses

Duty statuses categorize a driver's activities and help enforce adherence to HOS regulations. These statuses are essential for maintaining accurate records of a driver's on-duty and off-duty time. Accurate recording and transitioning between these statuses are critical for adhering to HOS rules. Let's break them down:

1. Off-Duty (OFF): Time when the driver is not working and is free to pursue personal activities.
2. Sleeper Berth (SB): Time spent resting or sleeping in a sleeper berth within the CMV. This status is a combination of off-duty and sleeper berth time.
3. Driving (DR): The time a driver spends driving a CMV.
4. On-Duty, Not Driving (OND): Any work-related time that is not driving, such as loading, unloading, fueling, or conducting vehicle inspections.

Proper management and documentation of these duty statuses are crucial for compliance with HOS regulations. Transitions between these duty statuses, tracked through Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), are pivotal for compliance and safety.

HOS Shift and Driving Limits

Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations set crucial limits on working (on-duty) and driving hours. The HOS shift and driving limits (like the 14 hour rule) set restrictions on how long you can spend in a particular duty status.

• HOS Shift Limit: A driver is limited to a maximum of hours in a duty period after coming on duty. This encompasses driving and non-driving activities. After reaching this limit, a driver must take a minimum number of consecutive hours off-duty before starting a new duty period.
• Driving Limits: Within the duty period, a driver is allowed a maximum hours of driving.

These limits are different depending on whether you're in the US, or you're in Canada. To learn more about Shift & Driving limits, visit: HOS Driving & On-Duty Time Limits

DOT & NSC HOS Cycles

Hours of Service cycles define the maximum allowable working (On-Duty) hours within a specific timeframe. In the US and Canada, these are the common HOS cycles used:

• 70-Hour/7-Day Cycle (US): US drivers on this cycle must not exceed 70 hours on duty in any 7-day period.‍
• 60-Hour/7-Day Cycle (US): US drivers on this cycle must not exceed 60 hours on duty in any 7-day period.‍
• 80-Hour/7-Day Cycle (Canada): Canadian drivers on this cycle must not exceed 80 hours on duty in any 7-day period.‍
• 120-Hour/14-Day Cycle (Canada): Canadian drivers on this cycle must not exceed 120 hours on duty in any 14-day period.

The list of cycles above only show the common cycles used in Canada and the US. For more details on HOS Cycles, visit: HOS Duty Cycles - Managing your 70, 120, or 60 cycle

ELDs play a vital role in accurately tracking these reset periods, ensuring they are conducted in compliance with HOS regulations.

Shift & Driving Hours Reset

To prevent fatigue and promote safety, HOS resets are essential. The most common types of resets include:

• US - 34-Hour Restart: A driver must take at least 34 consecutive hours off duty to reset their weekly driving hours. This restart must include two periods from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• Canada - 36-Hour Restart: - If you’re using the seven-day cycle (cycle 1), to reset your hours to zero, you must take 36 consecutive hours off-duty.‍
• Canada - 72-Hour Restart: If you’re using 14-day cycle, to reset your hours to zero, you must take 72 consecutive hours off-duty.

Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports

DVIRs are essential safety protocols involving pre- and post-trip inspections of the CMV. These inspections are used to identify and report any defects or issues promptly, ensuring the vehicle is in safe and working condition.

To complete a DVIR, drivers typically follow a standardized procedure, typically DVIRs are completed in their ELD application, or on a standardized paper form.

Diving deeper into Hours-of-Service

Now you have the basics of hours-of-service (HOS). If you're ready to dive a bit more detail in hours-of-service, here are a few guides you can use to further your knowledge:

• HOS Driving & On-Duty Time Limits
• HOS Duty Cycles - Managing your 70, 120, or 60 cycle
• DVIR (Driver Vehicle Inspection Report) - what you need to know
• Split-Sleeper Berth HOS Rule – Guide & Examples
• US Hours-of-Service (DOT) - HOS Quick Guide
• Canadian Hours-of-Service (NSC) - HOS Quick Guide
• HOS (Hours-of-Service) Rule Guide & How-To

If you have any questions about hours-of-service and how electronic logs can help, feel free to reach out to our team. We're always happy to help.