Parker Waichman LLP

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented new rules in 2003. The compliance date for these rules was January 4, 2004.

The revised Hours of Service regulations include:

  • Allowing truck drivers to drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
  • Truck drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty.
  • Truck drivers may not drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 70 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period. This on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver takes at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.

Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles:

  • No motor carrier shall permit or require any driver used by it to drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, nor shall any such driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle:
  • More than 11 cumulative hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty; or for any period after the end of the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
  • No motor carrier shall permit or require a driver of a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle to drive, nor shall any driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, regardless of the number of motor carriers using the driver’s services, for any period after:
  • Having been on duty 60 hours in any period of 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week or:
  • Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.
  • Any period of 7 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours or:
  • Any period of 8 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours.

Maximum driving time for passenger-carrying vehicles:

No motor carrier shall permit or require any driver used by it to drive a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle, nor shall any such driver drive a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle:

  • Having been on duty 60 hours in any 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week; or:
  • Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.

With huge numbers of tractor-trailer trucks on the roads today and with truck drivers under pressure to meet delivery deadlines, drivers of smaller automobiles should be vigilant. Contact Truck Accidents Law Firm today if you or a loved one were injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer. We will review your case free of charge, and we don’t get paid unless we win or settle your case.

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