The basics
Property-carrying CDL drivers: 11 hr drive within a 14 hr on-duty window after 10 hr off-duty. 30 min break required after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Reset: 10 consecutive off-duty hours restart the daily cycle.
HOS is the rule drivers love to hate and the one most often misunderstood. Here's the clean reference.
Most HOS violations aren't intent — they're misunderstanding the 14-hour window vs the 11-hour drive limit, or splits that don't qualify.
Property-carrying CDL drivers: 11 hr drive within a 14 hr on-duty window after 10 hr off-duty. 30 min break required after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Reset: 10 consecutive off-duty hours restart the daily cycle.
Drivers may split the 10-hour off period into 8+2 or 7+3 (one period in the sleeper berth ≥7 hr, one ≥2 hr off-duty or sleeper). Used right, doubles flexibility without violating.
Adverse driving (+2 hr), short-haul 150 air-mi (no ELD, 14 hr extended to 16 hr twice/week), 16-hour short-haul exception, oilfield ops exceptions.
Drive time is time at the wheel with the engine on. On-duty includes drive time plus loading, fueling, inspections — anything that counts against the 14-hour window.