49 CFR § 395.3 – Maximum Driving time for Property-Carrying Vehicles

Caveat: This code section differs from the section that identifies the maximum driving time for commercial drivers that operate passenger-carrying vehicles. 

  • Before beginning a work shift, a driver must have had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.  Then, and only then, may they begin a 14-hour work period. During that 14-hour period, a driver may drive for only 11 while implementing “sleeper berths” of at least 30 minutes.  A driver is not permitted to drive more than 8 consecutive hours. 

  • No driver shall be permitted to drive a property-carrying vehicle for any period after:

    • Being on duty for 60 hours within a period of 7 consecutive days, if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial vehicles every day of the week. “7 consecutive days” is defined as any period beginning with an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours that includes two periods from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.

    • Being on duty for 70 hours within a period of 8 consecutive days, if the employing motor carrier does operate commercial vehicles every day of the week. “8 consecutive days” is defined as any period beginning with an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours that includes two periods from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.

  • An off-duty period does not restart the calculation for time periods addressed in b(1) and (2).  The calculation does not restart until 168 consecutive hours have passed since the beginning of the last off-duty period.  If the driver takes more than one off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours within a period of 168 consecutive house, they must report which off-duty period is being used to restart the calculation in the “remarks” section of the record of duty status.

49 CFR § 395.5 – Maximum Driving time for Passenger-Carrying Vehicles

Caveat: This code section differs from the section that identifies the maximum driving time for commercial drivers that operate property-carrying vehicles. 

  • No driver may drive a passenger-carrying vehicle for more than 10 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty, or for any period after being on duty for 15 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty. 

  • No driver shall be permitted to drive a passenger-carrying vehicle for any period after:

    • Being on duty for 60 hours within a period of 7 consecutive days, if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial vehicles every day of the week.

    • Being on duty for 70 hours within a period of 8 consecutive days, if the employing motor carrier does operate commercial vehicles every day of the week.

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