How to Use the Online Tool for Complying with Truck Drivers’ Hours of Service (ETHOS)
12/02/2024
Guides
The Hours of Service (HOS) regulations govern the maximum amount of time drivers can be on duty, including driving time. These rules also define the duration and frequency of mandatory rest periods to help drivers remain alert and attentive.
Key HOS Rules:
11-HOUR DRIVING LIMIT. A driver may operate a vehicle for a maximum of 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
14-HOUR LIMIT. Once a workday begins, a driver has a maximum of 14 consecutive hours to complete all tasks, including driving and other duties. After this period, the driver is prohibited from driving, even if some of the 14 hours were spent waiting or performing non-driving tasks.For example, if a driver completes a 10-hour rest period and starts their workday at 6:00 AM, their 14-hour limit will end at 8:00 PM, regardless of how much time they actually spent driving. Even a 2-hour break during the day does not extend the 14-hour window. After 8:00 PM, the driver cannot operate the vehicle until completing another 10-hour rest period.
30-MINUTE BREAK. Drivers must take a 30-minute break if they have been driving for 8 consecutive hours. The break must be continuous and can be taken in one of the following statuses
On-duty, not driving: For instance, parked and working on paperwork.
Off-duty: Fully resting in a rest area.
Sleeper berth: Spending time in the truck's sleeper compartment.
Combination: For example, 10 minutes unloading (on-duty, not driving) and 20 minutes resting (off-duty).
60/70-HOUR LIMIT. Drivers can be on duty for a maximum of 60 hours over 7 days (or 70 hours over 8 days). To reset this limit, they must take 34 consecutive hours off duty.For example, a driver with a 70-hour limit works 10 hours daily for the first 5 days, accumulating 50 hours. Over the next 2 days, they work 20 more hours, reaching the 70-hour limit. On the 8th day, the driver cannot drive until taking a 34-hour reset.
SLEEPER BERTH RULE. A driver can split the mandatory 10-hour rest period into two parts: one of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and another of at least 2 hours in any location. Together, these periods must total 10 hours. These rest periods do not count toward the 14-hour workday limit, allowing the driver to retain a full 14-hour work window after rest. For example, a driver starts their workday at 6:00 AM, takes a 2-hour break at noon, works until 8:00 PM, and then rests for 7 hours in the sleeper berth (8:00 PM to 3:00 AM). These two periods (2 hours + 7 hours) provide the required 10 hours of rest, allowing the driver to resume work.
ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS EXCEPTION. In unforeseen adverse conditions, such as sudden heavy snowfall or traffic from an accident, drivers may extend the 11-hour driving limit and the 14-hour work window by up to 2 hours. This exception does not apply if the conditions were known in advance, such as through weather forecasts.
SHORT-HAUL EXCEPTIONS. For drivers performing short-haul trips (short-haul exception), there are exemptions that release them from the requirement to maintain work hour logs in electronic or paper form. Drivers who do not qualify for the short-haul exception are required to maintain such logs, which must include:
The start and end times of the workday.
All periods of driving, rest, on-duty (not driving), and off-duty time.
The location and time of events (e.g., breaks or status changes).
Employers are responsible for keeping these logs. For drivers qualifying for short-haul exceptions, this storage requirement is not applicable—if no logs are maintained, there is nothing to store.
Thus, drivers operating short-haul routes are subject to simplified requirements: instead of maintaining detailed logs, they only need to record the start and end times of their shifts. The conditions for this exception are as follows:
The driver must operate within a 150-mile radius of their work base.
The work shift must be completed within 14 hours.
The driver must return to their work base (the location where they typically start and end their workday) on the same day.ь.
If any of these conditions are violated, the driver is required to maintain a full log of their working hours
What is the Educational Tool for Hours of Service (ETHOS)?
The Educational Tool for Hours of Service (ETHOS) is a free online tool provided by the FMCSA for educational purposes. It helps drivers and companies understand and comply with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. The tool is available online and identifies potential violations based on the data entered. FMCSA does not save or use any data entered into this tool for any purpose. ETHOS is strictly for educational use to help users gain a better understanding of HOS rules.
When drivers and companies input duty status data into the web-based log, ETHOS identifies potential violations of the following rules:
The 11-hour driving limit;
The 14-hour work window limit;
The 30-minute break requirement;
The sleeper berth rule.
ETHOS does not analyze the 60/70-hour rule.
How to Use ETHOS?
Access the ETHOS page.
Select the applicable standard (Standard HOS Rules or Alaska HOS Rules).The Alaska HOS Rules differ from the Standard HOS Rules due to Alaska's unique working conditions, including climate, long distances, and lower infrastructure density.
Choose one of three options (A, B, or C):
Option A:. Enter the date, event time, and duty status. Click "Add Event". Repeat this process until you have entered all the data needed to fill out the log. Potential violations will appear in the log and in a table where you can toggle between carrier types (Property for freight carriers or Passenger for passenger carriers).
Option B. Select one of the four pre-filled log examples provided by FMCSA:
Revised 30-Minute Break Rule (No Violation)
Revised 30-Minute Break Rule (Violation)
Revised Sleeper Berth Provision (No Violation)
Revised Sleeper Berth Provision (Violation)
Option C. Upload an ETHOS file by clicking "Browse".
После заполнения вы увидите график Record of Duty Status. Часы в пределах суток будут указаны на оси X (горизонтальная ось), а на вертикально оси (У) статусы "off duty", "sleeper berth", "driving", "on duty", напротив которых указано время. Крестиком будут отмечены нарушения (если они есть). Ниже информация будет продублирована в таблице, справа от нее будут отмечены потенциальные нарушения. Если навести мышкой на красный точки на графике, можно увидеть время и статус, который был установлен в это время, а если навести на крестик, то описание нарушения. Чтобы очистить данные (Clear All Events), нажмите на иконку календаря с крестиком.
View the Record of Duty Status chart. The X-axis (horizontal) represents the hours of the day. The Y-axis (vertical) displays statuses such as "off duty," "sleeper berth," "driving," and "on duty," with time periods marked accordingly. Violations, if any, are indicated with a red cross. Below the chart, the information is repeated in a table, with potential violations highlighted to the right. Hovering over red points on the chart shows the time and status. Hovering over a cross reveals a description of the violation. To clear all data, click the calendar icon with a cross (Clear All Events).
Example Scenarios from Option B.
Example 1: Revised 30-Minute Break Rule (No Violation)
In this example, the log starts at midnight. The driver drives for 5 hours and then takes a 30-minute break while "on duty, not driving".
No violations occur because the 30-minute break can now be taken while "on duty, not driving".
Example 2: Revised 30-Minute Break Rule (Violation)
In this example, the log starts at midnight. The driver drives for 8.5 hours before taking a break, resulting in a violation recorded at 09:00.
The violation occurs because the driver exceeded 8 hours of driving without the required 30-minute break
Example 3: Revised Sleeper Berth Provision (No Violation)
In this example, the log starts at midnight, with the driver "on duty, not driving" for 1 hour (Day 1).
From 06:00 to 09:00, the driver spends 3 hours in the sleeper berth. Later, from 15:00 to 22:00, the driver spends an additional 7 hours in the sleeper berth. These two rest periods combine to meet the 10-hour rest requirement and are excluded from the 14-hour work window calculation.
Check the period from midnight to the start of the second rest period (15:00) for compliance with the 11-hour driving and 14-hour work limits. The driver drives for 11 hours and is on duty for 12 hours, with no violations.
Continue checking the rest of the log. The next calculation begins at the end of the first qualifying rest period (09:00). Combine the 7-hour sleeper berth period with a 3-hour "off-duty" period starting at 07:00 (Day 2). There are no violations from 09:00 to 07:00 (Day 2).
The next calculation period starts at 22:00 (Day 1) and ends at 17:00 (Day 2). No violations are recorded.
Example 4: Revised Sleeper Berth Provision (Violation)
In this example, the log starts at midnight, with the driver "on duty, not driving" for 1 hour (Day 1).
The first two qualifying rest periods that can be combined to meet the 10-hour rest requirement are a 7-hour sleeper berth period at 14:00 (Day 1) and a 3-hour sleeper berth period at 00:00 (Day 2).
When the driver resumes driving at 21:00 (Day 1), a violation of the 14-hour rule occurs because the first break (from 07:00 to 08:00) does not meet the sleeper berth rule requirements and is not excluded from the 14-hour work window. After 1 hour of driving, another violation occurs at 22:00, exceeding the 11-hour driving limit.
The next calculation begins at 21:00 (Day 1). The 14-hour window starts at 21:00 (Day 1) and ends at 14:00 (Day 2), excluding the combined sleeper berth rest at midnight. No violations occur because the driver takes the next qualifying rest period on time. At 13:00 (Day 2), the driver reaches the 11-hour driving limit. A violation occurs if the driver continues driving past 13:00.
There are no violations after 03:00 (Day 2).
ETHOS is a valuable tool for learning and complying with Hours of Service rules. It helps drivers and transport companies analyze work hours, prevent violations, and better understand HOS regulations. While it does not replace mandatory logkeeping or legal compliance, using ETHOS can simplify the process and enhance road safety. Use ETHOS to plan your workday efficiently, avoid penalties, and maintain a high level of professionalism.
