What are the 60/70-hour on-duty limits under 49 CFR 395.3?

Short answer

The 60/70-hour on-duty limits under 49 CFR 395.3 are 60 hours in any period of 7 consecutive days if the motor carrier does not operate every day of the week, or 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the motor carrier operates every day of the week.

The rule says

"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" (49 CFR 395.3(b)(1))

"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." (49 CFR 395.3(b)(2))

In plain English

These limits are designed to prevent driver fatigue by restricting the total number of hours a driver can be on duty within a given period. The 60/70-hour rule is a cumulative limit, meaning it looks at the total hours worked over a week or two-week period, rather than just the hours worked in a single day. Carriers and drivers must carefully track and manage hours to comply with these limits, as exceeding them can result in significant penalties.

What to do

• Track driver hours accurately using logs or electronic logging devices (ELDs)
• Monitor cumulative hours worked over 7- and 8-day periods
• Schedule trips and manage driver time to avoid exceeding the 60/70-hour limits
• Implement training on hours-of-service limits and restart provisions to ensure compliance