HOS clarification

An hours-of-service news story in our January issue (HOS rules intact for now, page 8) stated that the Interim Final Rule allows drivers 77 hours behind the wheel during a 7-day period before they must take 34 hours off. This had led to some confusion among readers, since Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules call for a maximum of 60/70 hours of driving in a 7/8 day period. The rules also

March 1, 2008

An hours-of-service news story in our January issue (“HOS rules intact for now,” page 8) stated that the Interim Final Rule “allows drivers 77 hours behind the wheel during a 7-day period before they must take 34 hours off.”

This had led to some confusion among readers, since Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules call for a maximum of 60/70 hours of driving in a 7/8 day period.

The rules also allow drivers to re-set the clock after 34 hours off-duty, and depending on when the re-set takes place, it is possible to end up with 77 hours in a 7-day period and 88 hours in an 8-day period.