Motor Carriers Hours of Service

Hours of service (HOS) are Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations. They govern the working hours of operators of commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce in the United States. Truck drivers and bus drivers are included in this group. The rules limit the number of hours per day and per week that drivers may work. They also dictate the minimum time drivers must rest between driving shifts. State regulations also apply.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is a division of the Department of Transportation. The DOT is responsible for the enforcement of FMCSA regulations. Regulated truck and bus drivers are required to record working hours in a log book, noting total hours spent driving and resting. Change of duty status is also recorded. Instead of a log book, motor carriers may use an electronic on-board recorder to automatically record the amount of time a vehicle is driven.

Hours-of-service rules are designed to prevent driver fatigue from causing accidents. The goal is to prevent fatigue by requiring drivers to maintain a normal sleep/wake cycle. Drivers must take a minimum period of rest. Drivers also are allowed longer “weekend” rest periods designed to fight off cumulative fatigue that accumulates during the work week.

DOT officers in each state enforce HOS rules. Sometimes hours of service are checked when commercial vehicles pass through weigh stations. Violators can be forced to stop driving, and a violation may affect a carrier's safety rating. Unfortunately, drivers routinely violate HOS rules, and the application of those rules is often debated by authorities. This is one reason why the use of on-board recorders rather than log books is also routinely debated.

The Ormond Beach law firm of Johnson & Gilbert, P.A. understands the serious nature of truck and automobile accidents and the injuries that can result. Our firm will investigate the causes of any accident and pursue appropriate legal action.

Call a Florida car accident attorney today at 800-556-8890 for a free and confidential consultation if you have been involved in a car or truck accident.

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