Hours of Service (HOS)

Hours of Service (HOS) are the federal regulations set by the FMCSA that limit how long a commercial driver can operate a vehicle before taking mandatory rest breaks. The rules are designed to combat fatigue, which federal studies have identified as a leading contributor to commercial vehicle crashes.

For property-carrying drivers (the most common category for NYC fleets), HOS limits include an 11-hour maximum driving time after 10 consecutive hours off duty, a 14-hour on-duty window from the start of any work shift, a 30-minute break required after 8 cumulative driving hours, and a 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day weekly limit. Short-haul drivers who return to the same location daily within a 150-air-mile radius qualify for certain exemptions.

Commercial drivers who exceed HOS limits can be placed out of service on the spot, and repeat violations hit the carrier's CSA score in the Hours of Service BASIC. Fleets running last-mile delivery in NYC — where congestion turns a 6-hour route into a 10-hour day — routinely face HOS pressure. Clear Plates focuses on NYC parking and camera exposure, but HOS violations belong to the same federal compliance picture that fleet managers need to watch.