Federal regulations govern the maximum number of hours that commercial motor vehicle driver may be "on‑duty." These rules limit commercial drivers to working a maximum of 14 hours within any 24‑hour period. Further, commercial motor carrier drivers: may only drive up to 11 hours of the 14‑hour "on‑duty" period; must take 10 consecutive hours of off‑duty time after driving 11 hours; may not extend the 14‑hour on‑duty window with off‑duty time, meals, or fuel stops; and may not be on duty more than 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. Sleeper berth. A sleeper berth is a sleeping compartment typically accessible from the driver's seat in a commercial vehicle. In order to comply with hours of service restrictions, a driver using a sleeper berth must spend at least eight consecutive hours in the berth, and two more hours in either the berth or off-duty. Penalties for violations. Potential penalties for drivers who violate the federal hours of service rules include: being placed "out‑of‑service" until the driver meets off‑duty time requirements; fines by federal, state, or local enforcement officials; a downgrade of the motor carrier's safety rating; or federal criminal penalties against carriers or drivers knowingly and willfully violating hours of service regulations.
