Hours of service

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state the daily driving, on-duty and off-duty limits south of 60 degrees north.
• You can explain the difference between cycle 1 and cycle 2.
• You can say how long you must be off duty to reset a cycle.
• You can explain what an electronic logging device (ELD) does.
• You can recognise signs of fatigue and plan rest before you need it.

What you need to know and understand

• The federal rules cover trucks, tractors and trailers with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4,500 kg.
• In a day you may not drive after 13 hours of driving or after 14 hours on duty.
• You need at least 10 hours off duty each day, and at least 8 consecutive hours off before driving again after reaching a limit.
• You may not drive once 16 hours have passed since the end of your last 8-hour rest period.
• Cycle 1 allows 70 hours on duty in 7 days; cycle 2 allows 120 hours in 14 days, with 24 consecutive hours off before reaching 70 hours.
• A cycle resets after 36 consecutive hours off (cycle 1) or 72 consecutive hours off (cycle 2).
• ELDs became mandatory federally on June 12, 2021, with penalties enforced from January 1, 2023.
• Different, longer daily limits apply north of 60 degrees north.

Your daily limits at a glance

• Driving: stop after 13 hours of driving in the day.
• On duty: stop driving after 14 hours on duty in the day. On-duty time includes loading, inspections and paperwork, not just driving.
• Work shift: no driving once 16 hours have passed since your last 8 consecutive hours off.
• Off duty: at least 10 hours in the day, of which 2 hours can be outside the main 8-hour block.
• Deferral: you may defer up to 2 hours of daily off-duty time to the next day if strict conditions are met.

Choosing and resetting a cycle

Drivers work on one of two cycles. Cycle 1 suits regular weekly work: no driving after 70 hours on duty in any 7 days. Cycle 2 suits longer trips: no driving after 120 hours on duty in any 14 days, and you must take at least 24 consecutive hours off before you reach 70 hours.

To start a fresh cycle, take at least 36 consecutive hours off on cycle 1, or 72 consecutive hours off on cycle 2.

North of 60 and logbooks

North of 60 degrees north, the daily limits are 15 hours of driving and 18 hours on duty, and no driving after 20 hours have passed between 8-hour rest periods.

Federally regulated carriers must fit each commercial vehicle with a certified ELD. It records driving time automatically from the engine. You still enter your duty status correctly and must be able to show your records to an inspector.

Common mistakes

• Counting only driving time. Loading, fuelling and inspections are on-duty time too.
• Treating the limits as a target. If you are tired before a limit, stop and rest.
• Forgetting the 16-hour window. A long day with breaks can still end your driving.
• Assuming federal rules always apply. Trips within one province may follow provincial rules.
• Changing cycle without the full 36 or 72 hours off.

Test yourself: Hours of service

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.