Truck Driver Fatigue & Hours-of-Service Violations
Federal law limits how long commercial truck drivers can drive before resting. When those rules are violated, serious truck accidents can happen. Learn how these cases are investigated and what steps may help protect your rights.
Serving families throughout Northeast Missouri & West-Central Illinois.
Quick Answer
Federal law limits how long commercial truck drivers can drive before resting. If those rules are violated and a crash occurs, the driver, trucking company, or both may be legally responsible.
What You'll Learn
-
What Hours-of-Service rules are
-
How fatigue causes truck accidents
-
What evidence Ryan investigates
-
What to do after a serious truck accident
Table of Contents
-
Understanding Federal Hours-of-Service Rules
-
Who Must Follow Hours-of-Service Rules?
-
How Many Hours Can Truck Drivers Legally Drive?
-
Required Rest Breaks
-
How Driver Fatigue Causes Truck Accidents
-
Warning Signs of Driver Fatigue
-
Evidence Ryan May Investigate
-
Trucking Company Responsibility
-
What to Do After a Serious Truck Accident
-
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Request Your Free Consultation
Understanding Federal Hours-of Service Rules
Federal Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations are safety rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules limit how long commercial truck drivers can drive and require specific rest breaks to help reduce fatigue-related crashes.
The purpose of these regulations is simple: a tired truck driver can be just as dangerous as an impaired driver. Fatigue slows reaction time, affects judgment, and increases the risk of serious accidents involving large commercial trucks.
When a truck accident occurs, investigators often examine whether the driver and trucking company followed Hours-of-Service regulations. Violations may become an important part of understanding how the crash happened and who may be legally responsible.
How Many Hours Can Truck Drivers Legally Drive?
Federal Hours-of-Service regulations establish limits on how long most commercial truck drivers may drive before taking required rest breaks. These rules are designed to reduce driver fatigue, improve highway safety, and help prevent serious truck accidents.
For many property-carrying commercial drivers, the general federal rules include:
-
Up to 11 hours of driving after at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.
-
Drivers generally may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, even if they have taken breaks during the day.
-
Drivers are generally required to take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving if they plan to continue driving.
-
Additional weekly limits also apply, including the 60-hour/7-day and 70-hour/8-day rules, depending on the carrier's operating schedule.
These regulations apply across the United States, including commercial truck drivers operating in Missouri and Illinois. If a driver exceeds these legal limits and a serious crash occurs, investigators may examine whether a Hours-of-Service violation contributed to the accident.
Every truck accident is different. Determining whether federal safety regulations were violated often requires reviewing electronic logging device (ELD) records, driver logs, dispatch records, and other evidence.
Questions about a truck accident in Missouri or Illinois?
If you believe driver fatigue may have contributed to a crash, Ryan Schuenke can review your situation and explain your legal options.
Who Must Follow Hours-of-Service Rules?
Federal Hours-of-Service regulations generally apply to commercial motor vehicle drivers who transport property or passengers in interstate commerce. Many drivers operating large commercial trucks must follow these federal safety regulations, although certain industries, short-haul operations, and emergency situations may be subject to different rules or exemptions.
Most tractor-trailer drivers traveling through Missouri and Illinois are required to comply with these federal regulations. Trucking companies are also responsible for helping ensure drivers follow applicable Hours-of-Service requirements and maintain accurate records.
If a truck driver who should have been following these regulations exceeds the legal driving limits and causes a crash, investigators may examine whether those violations contributed to the collision and whether the trucking company met its safety obligations.
What Rest Breaks Are Required?
For many commercial truck drivers, federal Hours-of-Service regulations generally require a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving if the driver plans to continue driving. This rule is designed to help reduce driver fatigue and improve safety for everyone on the road.
Most interstate commercial truck drivers traveling through Missouri and Illinois are subject to these federal regulations. While some drivers or operations may qualify for exceptions, many long-haul trucking companies and their drivers must comply with the FMCSA's Hours-of-Service requirements.
Following a serious truck accident, investigators may review electronic logging device (ELD) data, driver logs, dispatch records, GPS information, fuel receipts, toll records, and other evidence to determine whether required rest breaks were taken and whether any Hours-of-Service violations may have contributed to the crash.
What Is the 14-Hour Rule?
The 14-hour rule generally provides that many property-carrying commercial truck drivers may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, even if they have taken breaks during the day. Once the 14-hour window ends, the driver generally cannot legally continue driving until obtaining the required off-duty time.
This rule exists to reduce fatigue by limiting the length of a driver's workday. Although breaks may temporarily pause driving, they generally do not extend the 14-hour driving window.
If a commercial truck driver continues driving beyond the legal 14-hour limit, the risk of fatigue-related errors may increase. Following a serious truck accident, investigators may examine whether a driver exceeded the 14-hour window and whether the trucking company encouraged or allowed unsafe driving practices. Evidence of a violation may be an important factor when determining how the crash occurred and who may be legally responsible.
What Is the 60/70-Hour Rule?
The federal 60/70-hour rule limits how many hours many commercial truck drivers may work over a period of several days. Depending on how often the trucking company operates, drivers are generally limited to 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. These limits are designed to reduce cumulative fatigue and improve highway safety.
Unlike the daily driving limits, the 60/70-hour rule focuses on fatigue that builds over time. Even if a driver follows the daily driving rules, repeatedly working long hours over several days can reduce alertness, slow reaction times, and increase the risk of serious truck accidents.
After a serious truck accident, investigators may review driver logs, electronic logging device (ELD) data, payroll records, dispatch schedules, and other employment records to determine whether the driver exceeded the applicable weekly driving limits. Evidence of repeated Hours-of-Service violations may help establish whether fatigue played a role in causing the crash.