14-Hour On-Duty Window

Driving is not permitted after the 14th consecutive hour following the start of the shift. Off-duty time during the window does not extend it.

The rule

Driving is not permitted after the 14th consecutive hour following the start of the shift. Off-duty time during the window does not extend it.

How it works in practice

Your ELD tracks driving time automatically. Plan loads with this clock in mind — once it runs out, you must stop wherever you are, which can mean a parking-lot night at a truck stop.

Violations and penalties

HOS violations show up on CSA scores under the Unsafe Driving and HOS Compliance BASICs, can shut a driver down at roadside, and result in fines up to $16,864 per violation for serious patterns.

Exceptions

Short-haul (150-air-mile), adverse-conditions, and personal-conveyance exceptions exist but are tightly defined. When in doubt, log it normally and contact your safety manager.

Frequently asked

Does this rule apply to all commercial drivers?

It applies to property-carrying CMV drivers operating in interstate commerce. Some states adopt the federal rules for intrastate carriers too.

Where do I log this?

On a compliant ELD (electronic logging device). Paper logs are only allowed in narrow exceptions like 8-days-in-30 short-haul operations.

Sources