Guides / A Deep Dive into Hours-of-Service Rules / Frequently Asked Questions – HOS / What is the hours of service off-duty time?

What is the hours of service off-duty time?

According to the FMCSA, commercial drivers must have a rest period of 10 hours, or off-duty time, per day. This means the driver isn’t driving or performing other essential job activities like refueling.

A: Off-duty time refers to when a driver isn’t working or driving (e.g., sleeping, taking a meal break, etc.).

A driver can drive a maximum of 11 hours in a 14 consecutive hour period after 10 consecutive hours of being off duty. 
 According to the FMCSA, commercial drivers must have 10 hours of a rest period, or off-duty time, per day. This means the driver isn’t driving or performing other essential job activities, like refueling.