Hours of Service Violations — Common HOS Mistakes
Last reviewed · By Chad Griffith
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about hours of service violations: common hos mistakes. Whether you're a safety manager, compliance officer, or operations director, understanding dot compliance requirements is critical to avoiding costly fines and failed audits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the FMCSA Hours of Service rules?
Per 49 CFR 395: 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour on-duty limit, 30-minute break after 8 cumulative driving hours, 60/70-hour limit (7/8 days), and 34-hour restart. Property-carrying CMVs (most carriers) follow these. Passenger-carrying has slightly different rules. Short-haul exemption (49 CFR 395.1(e)) reduces some recordkeeping burden for drivers operating within 150 air-miles.
What are the most common HOS violations?
(1) Driving beyond 11 hours, (2) driving beyond 14-hour on-duty window, (3) failing to take the 30-minute break, (4) inaccurate or falsified logs, (5) operating without required ELD, (6) failing to retain supporting documents (49 CFR 395.11).
What's the fine for an HOS violation?
Up to $16,550 per violation under 49 CFR 386 (2026 inflation-adjusted). Falsification of records can carry additional penalties up to $13,500 per false log. Both driver and carrier can be cited.
Are paper logs still allowed?
Only for drivers covered by an ELD exemption (49 CFR 395.1(e), agricultural exceptions, drive-away/tow-away, model year 1999 or older vehicles, short-haul). Most interstate carriers must use a registered ELD per 49 CFR 395.20.
What supporting documents must I keep with HOS records?
Per 49 CFR 395.11: bills of lading or trip manifests, dispatch records, fuel receipts, toll receipts, payroll records, and any documents that can verify on-duty time. Retain for 6 months.
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