Understanding the Updated Hours of Service Regulations

Did you know? Drivers are more likely to be involved in an unsafe driving event if their driving hours occur towards the end of a 14-hour shift rather than the beginning.

Overview

In the United States, hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have been in place since 1940. These regulations have controlled the maximum daily drive time, workday hours, and work week (period) hours for CMV drivers. The regulations have been updated several times since 1940 in order to improve CMV driver safety.

The most recently updated HOS regulations are expected to have a compliance date of July 1, 2013. Learning the new regulations is very important for both fleet leaders and drivers; however, quickly adjusting to new rules can be challenging. In this module, fleet leaders will gain a clear understanding of the current regulations, including the most recent changes. They will learn how to best communicate these regulations and changes to their drivers. Fleet leaders will be walked through and provided with examples of driver workdays, which can be used as a hands-on demonstration tool when teaching HOS regulations to drivers. At the end of the course, fleet leaders should be confident in their knowledge of the regulations and how they will explain regulations to their team.

 Learning Objectives

This module will:

  • Explain and illustrate the new HOS rules.
  • Identify and explain the differences in the current rules compared to the previous rule.
  • Give tips on how drivers can follow rules/ways to use their breaks.

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