| Driver Impact: |
Current Rule |
Proposed Rule |
Final Rule |
| Daily Cycle |
18 hours |
24 hours |
10 hours off, 14 hours on |
| On Duty |
15 cumulative hours (off-duty breaks not counted) |
14 hours, including 2 hours mandatory rest |
• 14 consecutive hours (breaks included)
• Local drivers may extend this to 16 hours one day a week under certain circumstances |
| Off Duty |
8 consecutive hours |
10 consecutive hours for over-the-road drivers; from 9 to 12 hours for other types of operations |
10 consecutive hours |
| Driving Time |
10 hours |
12 hours |
11 hours |
| Breaks During Duty Time |
Discretionary |
2 hours in minimum half-hour segments |
Discretionary |
| Weekly Hours |
A driver may not drive after 60 hours logged "on duty" in 7 days if company does not run trucks every day of the week, or 70 hours in 8 days if the company runs trucks every day of the week. Time logged as "off-duty" is not counted in calculating "on-duty" time, so work week can go longer than 60 or 70 hours. |
A "fixed and recurring" 7-day period, in which drivers in most operations may work for 60 hours. Drivers of work vehicles such as utility and certain construction equipment could work 78 hours in 7 days. |
A driver may not drive after 60 hours logged "on duty" in 7 days if company does not run trucks every day of the week, or 70 hours in 8 days if the company runs trucks every day of the week. Time logged as "off-duty" is not counted in calculating "on-duty" time, so work week can go longer than 60 or 70 hours. |
| Weekly Break |
Remainder of week after weekly hours have been used. |
At least 32 hours off every 7 days, with 2 consecutive nights including the midnight to 6 a.m. period |
At least 34 consecutive hours |
| Restart |
None |
None |
A break of 34 hours "restarts" the weekly cycle. |
| Variations Based on Type of Operation |
Applies to all, with exemptions (see below) |
Industry divided into five segments - longhaul, regional, shorthaul, split-shift and work vehicle, with different rules for each segment. |
Applies to all, with exemptions (see below). |
| Onboard Recorders |
Optional |
Required for longhaul and regional segments |
Optional, but agency is going to research recorders as a safety tool |
| Exemptions |
• Agricultural operations exempted from driving time limits within 100 air-mile radius of farm or distribution point during planting and harvesting seasons.
• Partial relief from weekly limits for drivers involved in groundwater well drilling, construction and utility service work. |
Exempted operations covered under rules for work vehicles. |
• Agricultural operations exempted from driving time limits within 100 air-mile radius of farm or distribution point during planting and harvesting seasons.
• Well drilling, construction and utility drivers must comply with new daily limits, still have partial relief from weekly limits. |
| Sleeper Berth |
Drivers, whether alone or in a team, may take their 8-hour off-duty time in the berth in 2 periods, provided neither period is less than 2 hours. |
Only team drivers may use sleeper berths to split their 10-hour off-duty time, and only in periods of at least 5 hours each. |
Drivers, whether alone or in a team, may take their 10-hour off-duty time in the berth in 2 periods, provided neither period is less than 2 hours. |
| Driver Notification |
Company may make contact with driver during off-duty period. |
Companies prohibited from interrupting a driver during his off-duty time. An interruption would restart the off-duty clock. |
Company may make contact with driver during off-duty period.hours. |
