How Long Can Truckers Be On The Road?
If you’re part of the trucking industry, then you know how essential semi-trucks are in keeping the American economy running. For proof, look no further than grocery stores: most would be empty within three days if it weren’t for the constant deliveries made by trucks full of goods with which to restock their shelves.
Responsible for the movement of over 70% of all freight in the country, semi-trucks are the engine behind our vast commercial infrastructure. Food, furniture, livestock, fuel, vehicles, and so much more are picked up and delivered all over the country thanks to the trucking industry, which employs over 5% of all full-time workers in the United States. Without long-haul semi-trucks, commerce would grind to a halt.
As important as it is to get these transportation jobs done, the safety of both drivers and the public is even more critical. And “driving drowsy” is a hazard as dangerous as driving drunk: in addition to the danger of falling asleep at the wheel, being overly tired can impede your ability to react quickly to unexpected incidences and to make significant (and possibly lifesaving) split-second decisions. There are practical reasons to abide by these rules as well. For example, if it’s shown that the semi-truck driver was above the limit in terms of how many hours they could drive, then they may be legally liable for another’s injury or death.
That’s why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is part of the United States Department of Transportation, publishes detailed and frequently updated federal rules meant to ensure best practices to maximize safety that semi-truck drivers must follow.
So, what are those rules? Read on for a detailed summary, last updated in May of 2020.
ERD Requirements
“There’s an app (or a gadget) for that!” now applies to hour and mile record-keeping for truckers. First things first:
To ensure drivers are abiding by the Hours of Service rules (explained below), all semi-truck drivers, as of December of 2017, must record their hours in an electronic recording device (ERD). This is an automated version of the old-school pen-and-paper method of keeping track of hours and miles covered on the drive. It also prevents the old-school practice of “fudging” the numbers when faced with possible disciplinary action from an employer or law enforcement.
Now that we’ve discussed how those records must be kept, let’s move on to the Hours of Service rules themselves!
The 14-hour Rule
The 14-hour rule states that you must stop working 14 hours after you’ve begun your shift, despite how many of those hours you spent driving. For example, if you began your workday at 6 a.m., then by 8 p.m., you must end your shift. Once 14 hours is up, you are not permitted to start the clock for another 14-hour shift until you have rested for ten consecutive hours. Indeed, 10 is the minimum number of hours that you must rest before beginning another shift.
Does this mean that you can drive for 14 hours straight? No. Read on:
The 11-hour Rule
During the above-mentioned 14 possible hours of a shift, you are not permitted to drive for more than 11 of those hours.
Let’s take the above example of a 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. shift again. A driver could theoretically drive from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. before stopping for a minimum required 30-minute driving break (more about that below). Though there is still a 5-and-a-half window available for one’s shift after that point, the driver can only use three more of those hours to be in active transit; say, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., or even from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and then again from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., for example. Those three hours of required non-driving time give the driver a bit of flexibility for things like loading and unloading, fueling, eating, and resting.
The 30-minute Rule
After eight consecutive hours of driving, the driver must take at least a 30-minute break from driving. That does not necessarily mean that they must stop working entirely; they simply must not be actively driving during that time. A driver could, for example, use those 30 minutes for paperwork or some other task related to the overall job or for a combination of continued work and rest. They could also use it for a meal, a shower, or time in the sleeper berth, or take a break from driving before the eight hours has concluded; 30 minutes after eight straight hours is simply the minimum.
The 60 and 70 Hour a Week Limit
After 60+ hours of work in one week in the case of companies that don’t work every day of the week and 70+ hours a week in the case of those that do work every day of the week, drivers must take a consecutive 34 hours or more off before starting a new work week. One thing that’s important to note here is that a week can begin on any day and at any time.
Exceptions to the Rules
Like all rules, there are exceptions to these.
Short-haul drivers, defined as those who begin and end their shifts in the same place and do not go out of a 150-mile degree radius, are now allowed a maximum hours of duty of 14 (previously 12) hours. They can use a simple time record rather than an ERD, though they still must limit driving time to 11 hours during their shifts.
Another exception that applies to all drivers is the “adverse driving conditions” exception. In unforeseen conditions caused by weather or accidents, drivers can extend both their shift and their driving time by two hours.
Commerce and timely deliveries are essential, but the safety of truckers and those with whom they share the road is paramount.
We know about the latest truck driver news because we know truck drivers here at Vantage Truck Parking. So when it comes time to park your rig and take a rest, don’t forget to stop by and see us at one of our growing number of locations. Our security will keep your truck safe and secure, and our 24/7 access means you can stop by any time. We also pick our sites to be close to comfortable lodging and great food. We hope you’ll stop in to visit us soon. We’ll catch you down the road.
