HOS (Hours of Service)
What is hos (hours of service)? Hours of Service rules cap how long a commercial driver can drive and work before required rest, with strict daily and weekly limits.
Full definition
Federal HOS limits property carriers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window after 10 consecutive off-duty hours. The 60/7 or 70/8 rule caps cumulative on-duty time over rolling weeks.
Violations show up on the ELD record, get flagged at roadside inspections, and contribute to CSA scores. Repeated HOS violations damage carrier ratings and insurance pricing.
Exceptions exist for short-haul, adverse driving conditions, and the 2020 split-sleeper provisions, but the core caps drive every trucking schedule.