Guides / A Deep Dive into Hours-of-Service Rules / Frequently Asked Questions – HOS / What are the local driver hours-of-service rules?

What are the local driver hours-of-service rules?

Most local drivers should qualify for an exemption to the FMCSA’s hours-of-service regulations — a set of rules that determine how long drivers can drive during a single shift, when drivers are required to take a break, and how much time they have to take off between shifts.

Under the short-haul exemption, if drivers operate within a 150-air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location and they don’t exceed a maximum duty period of 14 hours, they’re exempt from HOS reporting regulations.