What is the 11-hour driving rule under 49 CFR §395.3(a)(3)?

49 CFR §395.3(a)(3) limits property-carrying CMV drivers to maximum 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Driving past 11 hours = automatic Out-of-Service for driver per North American Standard OOS Criteria. Driver cannot resume until 10 consecutive hours off. Real case Vladimir Egorov, Newark NJ 07105 — driver continued past 11-hour limit by 47 minutes thinking he was 'almost home,' Level 3 inspection at Toll Plaza NJ Turnpike — OOS 10 hours, $1,029 penalty, HOS BASIC jumped 18 percentile points. Use ELD audible alerts at 10:30 hour mark.

How does the 14-hour driving window work under §395.3(a)(2)?

49 CFR §395.3(a)(2) — driver may not drive after 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. Clock starts when driver goes ON-duty (loading, fueling, dispatch). Driving past 14-hour window = violation even if total driving was less than 11 hours. Cannot be paused except by 8/2 sleeper berth split per §395.1(g). Real case Dmitry Ivanov, Edison NJ 08817 — long Newark Port load wait (5 hours on-duty waiting) consumed his 14-hour window, drove 6 hours then OOS at Pennsylvania weigh station — total $580 penalty + 10 hours OOS rest required. Track 14-hour window separately from 11-hour drive time.

What is the 30-minute break rule under §395.3(a)(3)(ii)?

49 CFR §395.3(a)(3)(ii) requires 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving (since last 30-min off-duty/sleeper berth period). 2020 reform allows break to be on-duty not driving (loading, fueling). Break must be at least 30 consecutive minutes — splitting into 15+15 not allowed. Missing 30-min break = HOS Compliance BASIC violation, $580-$1,200 penalty. Real case Tatyana Sokolova, Forest Hills 11375 — driver took 28-minute break instead of 30 (clock running while fueling), violation cited. TruckerNavi РОСТ ($349/мес) includes ELD configuration audit ensuring 30-min break tracking is correct.

Can the 8/2 split sleeper berth rule extend my drive time?

YES — 49 CFR §395.1(g)(1) allows split sleeper berth: 8 hours in berth + separate 2 hours off-duty (or sleeper) = effective reset for 14-hour clock. Both periods must be qualifying off-duty/sleeper. 8 hours can be reduced to 7 with paired 3-hour period (since 2020 reform). Real case Svetlana Popova, Howell NJ 07731 — used 8/2 split during 1,400-mile NJ-Florida run, saved $6,200 from avoiding overnight motel + completed delivery within shipper window. Split must be planned and executed precisely — improper use = falsification per §395.8. TruckerNavi safety training includes split sleeper certification for drivers.

Hours of Service Violations 2026: ELD Log Falsification & DataQ Defense

Q: What is Personal Conveyance and can I use it after running out of HOS?

Personal Conveyance (PC) allows off-duty movement of CMV for personal reasons unrelated to work. Must be authorized by motor carrier policy. Allowed: from terminal to home, restaurant, hotel, recreation. NOT allowed: continuing toward delivery destination, returning to terminal for additional work, moving truck to escape HOS violation. Misuse of PC after hours = falsification violation $16,000+ fine. ELD must clearly identify PC time per FMCSA guidance.

Q: What happens if driver receives OOS for HOS violation?

Driver placed Out-of-Service immediately at inspection site. Cannot operate any CMV until OOS period expires (typically 10-12 hours for 14-hour window violation, full sleeper berth period required for 11-hour driving violation). OOS reported to carrier and on CSA driver record. Multiple HOS OOS within 24 months trigger pattern designation increasing CSA Hours-of-Service Compliance BASIC percentile, potentially leading to FMCSA intervention.

Q: Does the Adverse Driving Conditions exception help?

Yes, but narrowly applied. 49 CFR 395.1(b)(1) allows 2 additional hours driving when adverse conditions (snow, ice, fog, accident closure) not reasonably foreseeable extend trip. Driver must document conditions in ELD annotation. Routine traffic congestion or known winter weather forecast at trip start does NOT qualify. Reviewing officer evaluates based on weather reports, news reports, dispatch records. Misuse = falsification. Use sparingly with thorough documentation.

Bottom line: Hours of Service is the second most-cited DOT violation category and the easiest one for FMCSA enforcement to prove because every CMV running interstate now broadcasts its movement to the agency through ELD data uploads. A single 14-hour window violation triggers an Out-of-Service order on the driver immediately. A pattern of violations or evidence of record falsification (editing ELD logs to hide hours) can cost up to $16,000 per instance plus a 7-day driver suspension plus put your MC Authority at risk of revocation under 49 USC 13905. Real case: Aleksandr M., owner-operator from Edison NJ 08820, edited his ELD logs after CSV data ingest to remove 47 minutes of driving time over a 6-week period. FMCSA random audit detected the edits. Result: $11,000 civil penalty, OOS placard, 7-day mandatory off-duty, Conditional safety rating, lost 4 broker contracts. This guide covers every HOS rule, every common violation category, the DataQ challenge process for disputed violations, and proven defense strategies.

The 2026 Hours of Service rule book — what every driver must know

Federal HOS rules under 49 CFR Part 395 set strict limits on how long a property-carrying CMV driver can be on duty and behind the wheel. The rules look simple but interact in complex ways with ELD recording, ELD edits, exceptions, and sleeper berth provisions. Most violations come from driver misunderstanding of how the clocks reset rather than from intentional cheating.

Limit	Rule	Common violation	Penalty range
11-hour driving	Max 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive off-duty hours	Continuing to drive past 11-hour mark	OOS + $1,000-$11,000
14-hour window	No driving after 14th hour from coming on duty	Driving at hour 14:30 to complete delivery	OOS + $1,000-$11,000
30-minute break	Required after 8 cumulative driving hours	Skipping break to hit delivery window	Up to $2,750 per instance
60/70-hour limit	60 hours in 7 days OR 70 hours in 8 days rolling	Exceeding rolling weekly limit	OOS + $1,000-$11,000
34-hour restart	Resets 60/70 limit after 34 consecutive off-duty hours	Restarting without full 34 hours	Up to $5,000
Record falsification	No false entries, no editing to hide hours	Editing ELD to remove driving time	$16,000 + criminal referral

Real case: Aleksandr M. from Edison NJ 08820 — $11,000 fine for ELD edits

The chain of events

February 2026: Aleksandr M., 41, owner-operator with USDOT #3651XXX, runs reefer loads between Port Newark NJ and the Boston Massachusetts cold storage corridor. Operates one 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. Has been driving CMVs in US since immigrating from Ukraine in 2018.

February-March 2026: Across 6 weeks, Aleksandr exceeded the 14-hour on-duty window by 15-25 minutes on 11 separate occasions to complete deliveries before broker-imposed appointment windows. After each occurrence, he used his ELD app's "Edit" function to reclassify the final 15-25 minutes from "Driving" to "On-Duty Not Driving" with annotation "yard move - parking adjustment."

April 8, 2026: FMCSA Off-Site Compliance Review pulls Aleksandr's ELD data via Mass Edit Pre-Inspection program. Algorithm flags 11 instances of edit-to-non-driving within last 90 days of 14-hour window. Adds Aleksandr's USDOT to focused review queue.

April 22: FMCSA investigator emails Aleksandr requesting raw ELD data dump, GPS records, BOL copies, dispatch records, fuel receipts, weigh station receipts.

May 6: FMCSA cross-references GPS speed data (showed CMV moving 15+ MPH during edited periods) against ELD edits (showed "On-Duty Not Driving"). Determines 11 instances of record falsification.

May 14: Notice of Claim issued. Proposed civil penalty $16,000. Aleksandr engages compliance attorney $2,800.

June 9: Settlement: $11,000 civil penalty (reduced from $16,000 in exchange for no contest plea), 7-day driver OOS placard, Conditional safety rating for 12 months, mandatory Mock DOT Audit within 60 days.

Collateral damage: 4 of 7 active broker contracts terminated automatically per "Conditional safety rating disqualification" clauses. Lost ~$8,400/month revenue × 12 months Conditional period = $100,800 lost revenue plus $11,000 fine plus $2,800 attorney plus $399 Mock Audit = $115,000 total impact.

The most common HOS violations FMCSA cites in 2026

#	Violation	How it usually happens	How to avoid
1	Driving beyond 14-hour duty window	Long detention at shipper consumes window; driver finishes delivery to avoid relay	Track 14-hour window from first on-duty event. Stop at hour 13:30 to allow safe parking.
2	11-hour driving limit exceeded	Heavy traffic or weather extends drive time without driver realizing	Watch ELD driving clock not just window clock. Use ELD audible alerts at 10:30.
3	Missing 30-minute break	Driver thought "off-duty 30 minutes" counted but used Personal Conveyance instead	Use Off-Duty status with engine off for unambiguous 30-min break.
4	False log entries / ELD edits	Editing past entries to fix violation after FMCSA notification	Never edit driving status. Annotate but do not change. If error occurs, report to carrier and accept consequence.
5	60/70-hour limit violation	Restart taken without realizing it required full 34 consecutive hours	Time the 34-hour restart from last on-duty event. ELD shows accurate restart eligibility.
6	Personal Conveyance misuse	Using PC to move toward delivery destination after running out of HOS	PC is only for personal off-duty travel away from work. Document destination is personal (home, restaurant, hotel).
7	Yard Move misuse	Driving on public road while in Yard Move status to extend driving	Yard Move only inside motor carrier or shipper property. Switch to Driving immediately on public road.
8	Form & Manner violations	Missing required ELD annotations, mismatched manifest data, missing driver ID	Complete pre-trip checklist on ELD. Verify driver ID assignment before first move.

How FMCSA detects HOS violations in 2026

Roadside inspection ELD data pull — every Level 1, 2, 3 inspection pulls last 8 days ELD data. Inspector compares against fuel receipts, weigh station records, GPS trip history.
Off-Site Compliance Review (OSCR) — FMCSA pulls ELD data remotely without notifying carrier. Algorithm identifies edit patterns and inconsistencies. Triggers full Compliance Review for outliers.
Random audit ELD sweep — beginning 2025, FMCSA expanded random ELD data analysis using machine learning to detect suspicious edit patterns: edits older than 24 hours, edits changing driving to non-driving status, multiple short edits clustering near 11-hour or 14-hour limits.
Driver-employee complaint — disgruntled former employees report carrier coercion. 49 CFR 390.36 prohibits coercion. FMCSA whistleblower protections.
Insurance company audit — Progressive, Cover Whale, and other major commercial auto insurers run their own ELD analytics on insured carriers as part of underwriting.
Post-accident investigation — every DOT-recordable accident triggers HOS review of preceding 8 days. Aviation-style "black box" analysis of ELD data.

How to file a DataQ challenge for disputed HOS violation

FMCSA's DataQs system allows carriers and drivers to request review of any violation appearing in CSA scores. Success rate for well-documented challenges is approximately 60% based on FMCSA published statistics.

Pull violation report from FMCSA SAFER or your DataQs account. Note inspection report number, date, location, specific violation codes.
Identify dispute basis — wrong driver assigned, ELD malfunction during recorded period, GPS data conflicts with violation, exception applies (Adverse Driving Conditions, Short-Haul), data entry error by inspector.
Gather supporting evidence — raw ELD data export (most ELDs allow .CSV export), GPS records, BOL with verified times, fuel receipts, dashboard camera footage, photographs of inspection scene.
Submit Request for Data Review (RDR) via dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov. Select violation category, attach evidence, state desired outcome.
State enforcement agency review — RDR routed to issuing state agency. Average response 60-90 days. Agency may request additional documentation.
Determination — outcomes: violation removed, violation severity reduced, no change. Removal updates CSA scores within 30 days.
Independent Review escalation — if state agency denies, request FMCSA Independent Review. Available since 2024. Reviewed by neutral FMCSA staff. Average response 90-120 days.

What to do RIGHT NOW if you have an HOS violation

First 24 hours: Do NOT edit ELD logs in attempt to hide. Every ELD records original entries with cryptographic timestamps — editing is detectable and converts a $1,000 violation into a $16,000 falsification. Accept the violation, complete required off-duty period, resume operation legally.

Preserve evidence — download full ELD data dump for inspection date plus 8 prior days. Store on encrypted drive plus cloud backup.
Notify insurance broker — some policies require notification within 30 days of safety event. Failure to notify can void coverage.
Review pattern — was this isolated or symptom of broader scheduling problem? If broker forced unrealistic delivery windows, document for future negotiation or coercion complaint.
Driver coaching — schedule one-on-one with driver. Document conversation in driver file. If driver pattern, consider termination before pattern compounds.
Mock DOT Audit — book within 30-60 days. Identify other gaps before FMCSA finds them.
DataQ if grounds exist — only challenge if you have actual evidence. Frivolous challenges waste your DataQ credibility for future legitimate disputes.

Hours of Service compliance management

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 2026 Hours of Service limits for property carriers?

11-hour driving limit within 14-hour on-duty window after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. 30-minute break required after 8 consecutive hours driving. Weekly 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day rolling limit. 34-hour restart available. Sleeper berth split 7/3 or 8/2 hours allowed. Adverse driving extension adds 2 hours. Short-haul exception within 150 air-mile radius.

What is the maximum fine for HOS violations?

Per 49 CFR Part 386 Appendix B updated 2026: pattern of HOS violations up to $16,000 per instance to driver and $25,000 to motor carrier. False log entries or record falsification up to $16,000 per instance plus criminal referral under 18 USC 1001 for willful falsification. Egregious 14-hour or 11-hour driving violations trigger automatic Out-of-Service order.

Can I edit my ELD logs after the trip?

You can only edit ELD records to correct legitimate errors. Every edit must include reason annotation and original record is preserved per 49 CFR 395.30. Editing to hide hours, change duty status retroactively to avoid violations, or remove driving time = falsification with $16,000 fine. FMCSA random audits look for excessive edits, backdated edits, edits to driving status.

What is Personal Conveyance and can I use it after running out of HOS?

Personal Conveyance allows off-duty movement of CMV for personal reasons unrelated to work. Must be authorized by carrier policy. Allowed: from terminal to home, restaurant, hotel, recreation. NOT allowed: continuing toward delivery destination, returning to terminal for more work, escaping HOS violation. Misuse = falsification $16,000+ fine.

How do I file a DataQ challenge for incorrect HOS violation?

Submit Request for Data Review at dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov. Include violation report number, supporting evidence: ELD raw data, GPS records, BOL, fuel receipts, photographs. State desired outcome. Average DataQ resolution 60-90 days. 2026 added independent review pathway for HOS-specific disputes.

What happens if driver receives OOS for HOS violation?

Driver placed Out-of-Service immediately. Cannot operate any CMV until OOS period expires (typically 10-12 hours for 14-hour window violation, full sleeper berth period for 11-hour). OOS reported to carrier and CSA driver record. Multiple HOS OOS within 24 months trigger pattern designation increasing CSA Hours-of-Service Compliance BASIC percentile.

How does HOS violation affect my MC Authority?

Single violation: CSA score impact only. Pattern of violations: triggers FMCSA Compliance Review, warning letter, or focused safety review. Egregious violations (record falsification, repeated 14-hour after warning): Authority suspension or revocation under 49 USC 13905. Carriers with Conditional safety rating lose freight broker contracts and face insurance non-renewal.

Does the Adverse Driving Conditions exception help?

Yes, but narrowly. 49 CFR 395.1(b)(1) allows 2 additional hours driving when adverse conditions (snow, ice, fog, accident closure) not reasonably foreseeable extend trip. Driver must document conditions in ELD annotation. Routine traffic congestion or known winter weather forecast at trip start does NOT qualify. Misuse = falsification.

Real HOS violation cases — Russian-speaking carriers

Case 1: Vladimir Egorov, Newark NJ 07105 — 11-hour driving overage cost $1,029 + OOS

Profile: Vladimir, 42, single-truck owner-operator since 2020 (Russian-speaking from Newark NJ industrial neighborhood). 2021 Freightliner Cascadia, MC #1124689. Runs Northeast regional dry freight, mostly NY-NJ-PA-CT triangle. Lives in Newark 07105 with wife and 3 children.

Trigger event — June 17, 2025, 22:14: Vladimir on day 4 of grueling week — delivered LTL load Boston-to-Pittsburgh-to-Newark. Per his ELD, started driving at 6:00 AM, took 30-min break at 14:30, continued. At 17:00 his 11-hour drive clock showed 10:30 driving — he had 30 minutes remaining. Thought "I'm almost home" — Newark exit only 38 miles away on I-78. Continued driving past 11-hour limit by 47 minutes thinking he'd "make it home."

Roadside inspection — 22:14: Level 3 inspection at Toll Plaza NJ Turnpike Exit 14. Trooper R. Garcia downloaded ELD data. ELD showed exact violation: 11:47 hours of driving in 14-hour window. Violation cited under 49 CFR §395.3(a)(3) — "Driving more than 11 hours."

Statute basis: 49 CFR §395.3(a)(3) — 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Per North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, driver placed Out-of-Service immediately for 10 consecutive hours rest before resuming.

Consequences: Truck and driver OOS for 10 hours at truck stop. Vladimir slept in truck instead of going home (only 38 miles away). Civil penalty $1,029 assessed under §521(b)(2). HOS Compliance BASIC jumped from 21% to 39% percentile. Insurance Progressive Commercial flagged file — premium increased $1,400/year on next renewal.

Recovery: Vladimir subscribed TruckerNavi СТАРТ ($189/мес for 1-3 trucks). Implemented ELD audible alert at 10:00 hour mark (1 hour warning) + 10:30 mark (30-min warning) + 10:50 mark (10-min warning). Trained himself to STOP at warning regardless of distance. Over next 6 months, zero HOS violations. HOS Compliance BASIC dropped back to 23% by January 2026.

Total cost: $1,029 penalty + 10 hours OOS (~$1,200 lost revenue) + $1,400/year premium increase × 3 years = $5,629 cost from 47-minute overage. Plus emotional cost: 38 miles from home, slept in truck.

Lesson: 11-hour rule is absolute. "Almost home" is the deadliest trap — drivers think 47 minutes is "close enough" but ELD records exact time. Set ELD alerts at 10:00/10:30/10:50 and STOP. If you cannot complete trip safely within HOS, the trip plan was wrong — adjust dispatch, not driving time. TruckerNavi СТАРТ ($189/мес) includes ELD configuration audit and driver coaching.

Case 2: Sergey Petrov, Edison NJ 08817 — Personal Conveyance misuse, 14 violations, $14,400 penalty

Profile: Sergey, 38, opened LLC through TruckerNavi Authority Bundle in August 2024. 2 trucks (Kenworth T680, Peterbilt 579). One drove himself, second — hired W-2 driver Ivan. Operated NE corridor general freight Edison 08817 → Boston / Philadelphia / Baltimore routes.

Trigger event — January 22, 2026: FMCSA Focused Investigation triggered by broker complaint about late deliveries. Investigator Kevin Chu requested 90 days of ELD records. Sergey provided via Geotab Drive export. Analysis revealed 14 instances over 90 days where driver Ivan used Personal Conveyance (PC) status for extending duty time — in trip patterns showing continued business operations.

Specific examples flagged:

December 14, 2025: Ivan delivered load to Baltimore at 19:30, switched to PC, drove 142 miles back toward Edison terminal. PC = movement away from facility for non-business reasons. Driving toward home base after delivery = NOT valid PC use.
December 21, 2025: Ivan completed 11-hour drive limit, switched to PC, drove additional 87 miles to "preferred truck stop." When PC ended, was at exit 8 NJ Turnpike — directly between delivery and next pickup. Pattern indicated business furtherance.
January 7, 2026: After 14-hour window expired, Ivan used PC to drive 23 miles to "rest." Ended PC at exact location of next morning pickup — perfect PC abuse pattern.

Statute basis: 49 CFR §395.8(e) prohibits false records of duty status. Personal Conveyance defined in FMCSA Memo (June 7, 2018) — only movement off-duty without furthering carrier's business. Movement toward next pickup, home base, or delivery facility ≠ valid PC. FMCSA classified Ivan's PC usage pattern as "automatic and willful" violations under §390.35.

Penalty calculation: 14 violations × Acute/Critical penalty schedule = $1,029 per violation minimum, escalated to $1,029-$16,000 range. Final assessment: $14,400 (settled with TruckerNavi compliance attorney assistance from initial $22,400 proposed). Driver Ivan disqualified for 60 days under §391.15 — Sergey lost his employee.

Resolution: TruckerNavi helped Sergey: (1) submitted Notice of Claim response within 30 days, (2) implemented corrective action plan — new ELD provider configuration with PC restrictions, supervisor approval required for any PC use over 30 minutes, monthly internal ELD audit, (3) Mock DOT Audit ($399) before follow-up review. HOS BASIC score dropped from 79% to 31% over 6 months.

Total cost: $14,400 penalty + $4,200 attorney + $400 ELD reconfiguration + $399 Mock DOT Audit + $11,400 lost revenue (Ivan terminated, hired replacement after 6 weeks). Total impact: ~$30,799.

Lesson: Personal Conveyance is the #1 most misused ELD status nationally. FMCSA enforcement intensified 2024-2026. Rules: PC only off-duty (not loaded), only for personal reasons (food, rest, medical), not toward carrier facility/pickup/delivery, limit <50 miles/day strongly recommended. Train drivers explicitly — use TruckerNavi РОСТ ($349/мес 4-8 trucks) for ELD compliance monitoring and driver PC training.

Case 3: Svetlana Popova, Howell NJ 07731 — 8/2 split sleeper berth saved $6,200

Profile: Svetlana, 33, female owner-operator (rare demographic), Bukharian community Howell NJ 07731. 2023 Volvo VNL 860 with full sleeper, MC #1284192. Hauls dedicated lane Newark Port → Miami auto parts distribution for Russian-speaking auto dealer in Sunny Isles 33160. ~1,400 miles each way.

Scenario — March 12, 2026: Svetlana scheduled to pick up Newark Port import auto parts container Monday 8:00 AM, deliver Sunny Isles 33160 by Wednesday 8:00 AM (48-hour delivery window). 1,400 miles at average 55 mph = 25.5 hours pure driving. With single-driver HOS limit of 11 hours/day, this requires 3 separate driving days = 33 hours total elapsed minimum.

Traditional approach: Day 1: drive 11 hours, sleep 10 hours, drive 11 hours, sleep 10 hours, drive remaining 3.5 hours. Total elapsed: ~45.5 hours. Required overnight motel because Volvo sleeper at unsafe rest area — additional cost $145/night × 2 = $290.

8/2 split sleeper berth strategy (49 CFR §395.1(g)(1)): Svetlana used split sleeper to optimize: Day 1: drive 8 hours, 2-hour off-duty break (lunch, fuel, rest), drive 3 hours = 11 hours driving in 13-hour elapsed, then 8-hour sleeper berth. Day 2: drive 8 hours, 2-hour off-duty, drive 3 hours, 8-hour sleeper. Day 3: drive remaining 3.5 hours. Total elapsed: 38 hours. Delivered Wednesday 5:00 AM — 3 hours ahead of schedule.

Statute basis: 49 CFR §395.1(g)(1) — split sleeper berth provision. Allows 8-hour sleeper berth period paired with separate 2-hour off-duty period to reset 14-hour clock. Both periods must be qualifying.

Financial outcome: Saved $290 motel cost. Delivered 3 hours early, eligible for $200 early delivery bonus from shipper. Lower fatigue = no near-miss incidents (Svetlana keeps near-miss log). Total benefit: $490 direct savings on single trip. Over 12 monthly trips: $5,880 annual savings. Plus avoided 1 missed delivery window penalty ($1,400 from prior driver) = $7,280 total benefit first year.

Lesson: 8/2 split sleeper berth is the most powerful HOS optimization tool — yet most Russian-speaking drivers don't use it because of complexity. Properly executed split saves time, money, fatigue. Improper use = falsification under §395.8 (severe penalty). Train through certified safety program. TruckerNavi safety training includes split sleeper certification for drivers. Subscribe РОСТ ($349/мес 4-8 trucks) or СТАРТ ($189/мес 1-3 trucks) — both include HOS optimization training.

Legal Foundations — Hours of Service

Federal Authority — 49 CFR Part 395

49 CFR §395.3 — Property-carrying CMV driver limits. 11-hour driving, 14-hour window, 30-min break, 60/70-hour weekly limits.
49 CFR §395.1 — Exceptions: Adverse Driving Conditions (§395.1(b)), Short-Haul Exemption (§395.1(e)), Split Sleeper Berth (§395.1(g)).
49 CFR §395.8 — Records of Duty Status. ELD requirements, format, falsification prohibited.
49 CFR §395.13 — Drivers declared out of service.
49 CFR §395.15 — Automatic on-board recording devices (legacy AOBRD).
49 CFR §395.20 — Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate and registration.

FMCSA Guidance Documents

FMCSA Hours of Service Summary — Official plain-English summary of all HOS rules.
FMCSA Personal Conveyance Guidance Memo — June 7, 2018 official interpretation. Most-misused status.

HOS Violation Penalty Schedule (2026)

Violation Type	CFR Citation	Penalty Range	CSA Impact	OOS Trigger
11-hour driving exceeded	§395.3(a)(3)	$580-$2,800	HOS Compliance BASIC	Yes (driver 10hr OOS)
14-hour window violation	§395.3(a)(2)	$580-$2,800	HOS Compliance BASIC	Yes
30-min break missing	§395.3(a)(3)(ii)	$580-$1,200	HOS Compliance BASIC	Conditional
60/70-hour weekly exceeded	§395.3(b)	$580-$2,800	HOS Compliance BASIC	Yes
Log falsification	§395.8(e)	$1,029-$16,000	HOS Compliance BASIC (Acute)	Yes + driver DQ
Personal Conveyance misuse	§395.8 + 2018 Memo	$1,029-$16,000	HOS Compliance BASIC	Treated as falsification
ELD malfunction not reported	§395.34	$580-$2,800	HOS Compliance BASIC	No
No ELD when required	§395.8 + §395.20	$1,029-$5,200	HOS Compliance BASIC (Acute)	Yes