Truck drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours per day, but they must complete those 11 hours within a 14-hour work window.
This 14-hour window starts when the driver begins work for the day, and it includes driving time as well as any other time spent working, such as loading or unloading cargo.
Before they can drive again, they need to be off duty for a minimum of 10 consecutive hours. So in simple terms, it’s 11 hours of driving, within 14 hours of starting work, followed by at least 10 hours off duty.
The hours of service regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers are set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and are detailed in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 395.
Specifically, the 11-hour driving limit and 14-hour driving window are outlined in 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) and 49 CFR 395.3(a)(1), respectively. The requirement for 10 consecutive hours off duty can be found in 49 CFR 395.3(a)(1) as well.
Florida has adopted the federal regulations as state law in Florida Statute § 316.302. This statute states that all owners and drivers of commercial motor vehicles that are operated on the public highways of Florida are subject to the federal safety regulations contained in 49 C.F.R. parts 382, 385, and 390-397.
As truck accident lawyers, we’ve held truck drivers and their employers liable for causing crashes after disregarding the safety requirements and driving fatigued.
References
49 CFR § 395.3 – Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles.
Florida Statute § 316.302 – Commercial motor vehicles; safety regulations.
