Keeping drivers safe and your business compliant with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations is essential for success. These road rules were created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, to limit commercial driving time and avoid driver fatigue.
Here’s an overview of HOS regulations, plus a few best practices to plan for traffic and weather delays so you can stay on schedule.
Hours of service rules to know
Follow these HOS regulations to deliver confidently while taking care of your drivers.
- 11-hour driving limit: Drivers are allowed a maximum of 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
- 14-hour on-duty limit: Drivers are allowed 14 hours of work during one period, with a maximum of 11 hours driving. Off-duty time doesn’t extend the limit.
- 10-hour reset: After 14 hours of consecutive work, a driver is required to take at least a 10-hour reset, meaning time off-duty.
- 34-hour reset: After driving 60 hours in a week, a driver is required to take at least a 34-hour reset off duty.
- 30-minute driving break: Required after 8 consecutive hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption. According to FMCSA, this includes “on-duty not driving, off-duty, sleeper berth, or any combination of these taken consecutively”.
Best practices to avoid HOS issues
If a driver is at risk of an HOS violation, Relay carriers and drivers can use our app to connect with our operations for support. But to set your team up for success, build a strong backup plan for unexpected situations.
- Have a driver on-call or a part-time driver that can step in and complete a route when needed.
- Analyze weather alerts along your route (Relay navigation lets carriers track loads in real-time and the associated risk level for their drivers).
- Account for seasonal delays, especially between November and February.
- Monitor load progress (Relay carriers can use our real-time load tracking).
- Factor in traffic patterns and stem time (Relay navigation optimizes safe route suggestions for reliable scheduling).
- Check for rest stops and safe parking ahead of time to make the most of driver schedules (Relay has discounts for parking reservations).
What if a driver runs out of HOS in the middle of a tour?
Drivers that reach their HOS limit must stop driving immediately and take their break. Otherwise, both the driver and their carrier can face penalties.
- Fines for driver and carrier (anywhere from $300-$13,000)
- Driver placed out of service
- Suspension of driver’s CDL
- Negative impact to a carrier’s CSA safety score
- Increased carrier insurance
Intentional HOS violations, including false or missing driver logs, are a federal offense and can put a carrier out of business. An electronic logging device can help keep drivers aware of their HOS.
How does HAQM factor HOS into loads?
To help make sure HAQM loads are delivered safely and on time, Relay includes time for HOS breaks in your scheduled trip duration. It’s on the carrier to plan accordingly. Load delays lower your performance score, which determines when and how much work you can book.
When schedule adjustments are needed, our Relay app allows carriers to communicate the situation to our operations center so we can adapt and make sure your performance score reflects only the factors within your control.
Relay is here to support your success
HAQM wants to work with carriers that prioritize safety and compliance. Start your application on your desktop or in our app on iOS or Android. But first, check out Relay’s carrier requirements to make sure HAQM is the right fit for your business.
Disclaimer: HAQM does not tender loads through any third-party load boards. Any HAQM loads posted on third-party load boards will only be tendered directly to approved and onboarded carriers via the Relay web portal or Relay mobile app. If you are interested in hauling loads for HAQM, sign up and book directly on relay.haqm.com.
