The 16-hour rule or the 16-hour short-haul exemption allows some commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to extend their 14-hour window by 2 hours every week. As long as certain conditions are met.

In this post, we discuss the nitty-gritty details of this 16-hour rule, the conditions that need to be met, and how drivers can use the 16-hour exemption in the Motive Driver App.

Let’s start by reviewing the hours-of-service rule and how the 16-hour short-haul exemption fits in.

A brief recap of hours-of-service rules

According to DOT hours-of-service rules, U.S. property-carrying CMV drivers generally have 14-hour windows to finish driving-related work. In those 14 hours, they can drive up to 11 hours. Drivers must also take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.

Manage IFTA, DVIR, and HOS in one solution with Motive.

What is the 16-hour rule?

The 16-hour rule is also commonly referred to as the 16-hour short-haul exemption.

The 16-hour short-haul exemption does not extend the 11-hour driving limit. Instead, drivers who qualify for the 16-hour exemption can remain on duty for 2 more hours (for 16 hours, instead of 14 hours). Drivers must be relieved immediately after the 16th hour.

Related: The complete guide to Canada hours-of-service rules

Conditions for the 16-hour short-haul exemption to apply

Short-haul drivers can use the 16-hour exemption if all of the following occur:

  • The driver returns to their work reporting location for that day as well as their last 5 workdays
  • The driver is released from work after coming on duty within 16 hours
  • The driver has not used the 16-hour exemption in the previous 7 consecutive days (unless they have used the 34-hour break to restart their weekly cycle)

Also, drivers who qualify for non-CDL short-haul exemptions may not use the 16-hour short-haul exemption.

How to use the 16-hour exemption with the Motive app

The Motive Driver App makes it simple for drivers to use the 16-hour short-haul exemption. Drivers can use the 16-hour rule with the Motive Driver App in four simple steps.

  1. Go to Menu > Settings > Logs.
  2. Enable the short-haul exemption and save the settings.
  3. Note: The 16-hour short-haul exemption is only available for “property-carrying” and “oil and gas” vehicles and for USA 70-hour/8-day and 60-hour/7-day cycles.
  4. Once the “short-haul exemption” is enabled, go back to your logs, click the + icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen, and tap Take the 16-hour exemption to use it.

Final words

The 16-hour short-haul exemption allows drivers to extend their daily window by two hours once a week. In certain situations, it can be very beneficial for drivers to use this exemption.

The Motive Driver App makes it very simple for drivers to use the 16-hour exemption. You can download the Motive Driver App for free for Android and iOS devices.

Click the following limited-time offer to get free Motive ELD hardware that can help you with ELD compliance.