Federal law caps how long a trucker can stay behind the wheel. Truck driver hours of service rules exist because fatigue kills. When a carrier pushes a driver past those limits, the wreck that follows is no accident in any meaningful sense.
Below, we explain what the rules require today and why a violation changes the value of your claim.
What Truck Driver Hours of Service Rules Require
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets these limits for property-carrying drivers:
- 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- 14-hour window — no driving beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty
- 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving
- 60/70-hour limit across 7 or 8 consecutive days, reset by 34 hours off duty
Still, two exceptions loosen those numbers. Drivers may split the 10-hour rest using a sleeper berth, pairing at least 7 consecutive berth hours with a 2-hour off-duty period. Adverse weather adds up to 2 more hours to both the driving limit and the window.
These rules cover interstate vehicles rated at 10,001 pounds or more. Placarded hazardous loads and larger passenger vehicles also fall under them.
Speak with a Charlotte car accident lawyer and get a free consultation today.
Call (980) 294-4931What Changes Are Coming
FMCSA launched two pilot programs in 2025 to test more flexible schedules. One tests a sleeper berth split with a 5-hour minimum segment. The other lets drivers pause the 14-hour clock for up to three hours a day.
Pre-testing wrapped in mid-2026. Consequently, the agency plans to expand both programs to roughly 512 drivers in 2027. Safety advocates and trucking groups still disagree about the effect on highway deaths.
Do Georgia Intrastate Truckers Follow the Same Rules?
Yes, largely. Georgia adopted the federal hours of service regulations for intrastate carriers instead of exempting them. So a truck that never crosses a state line still answers to Part 395.
The state has granted limited variances for certain intrastate operations. Therefore, the exact limits deserve a close look in any specific case.
Why an Hours of Service Violation Strengthens Your Claim
Ultimately, logbook violations shift a case. First, they establish negligence directly instead of leaving it to argument. Second, they often reach past the driver to the carrier that dispatched him.
After all, a company that schedules impossible runs shares the blame. Moreover, carriers hold far larger insurance policies than individual drivers. That difference frequently decides whether your medical bills get paid in full.
Why the Evidence Disappears Without a Lawyer
Electronic logging devices record the proof. However, carriers must keep that data for only six months. Dispatch records, fuel receipts, and bills of lading vanish on similar schedules.
An attorney sends a preservation letter within days of a crash. Subpoenas then pull the ELD data, GPS pings, and payroll records that expose a falsified log. As a result, victims who wait rarely see any of it.
Talk to an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer
Shane Smith Law digs into the logs, not just the police report. Call our Atlanta truck accident lawyers at (980) 246-2656 for a free consultation.
