Skip to main content
All CollectionsELD Compliance with E-LogsRules & Exemptions
Hours of Service (HOS) Rule Exemptions in E-Logs
Hours of Service (HOS) Rule Exemptions in E-Logs

Detailed information around log rules and HOS types when using the Contractor's E-Logs app.

Breanne Cassidy avatar
Written by Breanne Cassidy
Updated over a week ago

HOS Rule Exemptions

Federal Exemption - Construction Equipment & Materials

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles, with 1 exception

  • Only applicable to Drivers using specialized equipment as determined by the company

  • Cannot be used in conjunction with other Exemptions (Short Haul)

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • No break required EXCEPTION

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • Sleeper Berth - SB: Drivers using the sleeper berth provision must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two. See the following for example https://www.truckdrivingjobs.com/blog/867/sleeper-berth-rule-what-you-need-to-know.html

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

Additional Reference Material:

Federal Exemption - OS/OW Load Exemption

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles, with one exception: These drivers do not have to take a 30 min break

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • Sleeper Berth - SB: Drivers using the sleeper berth provision must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two. See the following for example https://www.truckdrivingjobs.com/blog/867/sleeper-berth-rule-what-you-need-to-know.html

Federal Exemption - Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) Exemption

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles, with one exception: These drivers do not have to take a 30 min break

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • Sleeper Berth - SB: Drivers using the sleeper berth provision must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two. See the following for example https://www.truckdrivingjobs.com/blog/867/sleeper-berth-rule-what-you-need-to-know.html

Federal Exemption - Oilfield

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles, with 3 exceptions

  • Only applicable to Drivers using specialized equipment as determined by the company

  • Cannot be used in conjunction with other Exemptions (Short Haul)

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Break - B (OFF): May drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since the end of driver’s last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 24 or more consecutive hours off duty at any given time. EXCEPTION #1

  • Off Duty - OFF: Waiting time can be counted as OFF time rather than ON time. There is no limit on this type of time. EXCEPTION #2

  • Sleeper Berth - SB: Drivers can use any break of 2 hours or more in a sleeper berth or sleeping facilities at a well site as a qualifying break, and any 2 qualifying breaks can be combined to make the 10-hour break (there is no eight-hour sleeper berth requirement). In addition, all qualifying breaks do not count toward the driver’s 14-hour calculation. EXCEPTION #3

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

Federal Exemption - Short Haul 150 Air Mile - Property Carrying (Standard)

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles with several exceptions:

  • A driver must not change work reporting locations for the day.

  • Additionally, a driver must be back to — and released from — the work reporting location for his/her 10-hour OFF within 14 hours.

  • The driver must stay within 150 air-miles distance of the work reporting location for the day (draw a 150 air-mile radius circle around the work reporting location for the day — the driver must stay within this circle).

  • The driver must include the starting and ending times for the day and the total hours on duty on the time record for the day in a log.

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

  • Short Haul 150 Air Mile drivers are not required to take a break during their day/shift

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not BE ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

  • Failing to meet the criteria above requires the driver to complete a standard log for that day.

Federal Exemption - Short Haul 150 Air Mile - Property Carrying (Construction Equipment & Materials)

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles with several exceptions:

  • A driver must not change work reporting locations for the day.

  • Additionally, a driver must be back to — and released from — the work reporting location for his/her 10-hour OFF within 14 hours.

  • The driver must stay within 150 air-miles of the work reporting location for the day (draw a 150 air-mile radius circle around the work reporting location for the day — the driver must stay within this circle).

  • The driver must include the starting and ending times for the day and the total hours on duty on the time record for the day in a log.

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

  • Short Haul 150 Air Mile drivers are not required to take a break during their day/shift

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

  • Failing to meet the criteria above requires the driver to complete a standard log for that day.

Federal Exemption - Short Haul 150 Air Mile - Property Carrying (Driver-salesperson)

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles with several exceptions:

  • A driver must not change work reporting locations for the day and does not have to return to the work reporting location

  • The driver must stay within 150 air-miles of the work reporting location for the day (draw a 150 air-mile radius circle around the work reporting location for the day — the driver must stay within this circle).

  • The driver must include the starting and ending times for the day and the total hours on duty on the time record for the day in a log.

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

  • Short Haul 150 Air Mile drivers are not required to take a break during their day/shift

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

  • Failing to meet the criteria above requires the driver to complete a standard log for that day.

Federal Exemption - Short Haul 150 Air Mile - Passenger Carrying

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Passenger Carrying Vehicles with several exceptions:

  • A driver must not change work reporting locations for the day.

  • Additionally, a driver must be back to — and released from — the work reporting location for his/her 8-hour OFF within 14 hours.

  • The driver must stay within 150 air-miles of the work reporting location for the day (draw a 150 air-mile radius circle around the work reporting location for the day — the driver must stay within this circle).

  • The driver must include the starting and ending times for the day and the total hours on duty on the time record for the day in a log.

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

  • Short Haul 150 Air Mile drivers are not required to take a break during their day/shift

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 8 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 10-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not BE ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

  • Failing to meet the criteria above requires the driver to complete a standard log for that day.

Federal Exemption - Short Haul 150 Air Mile - Agricultural Commodity

  • This rule is different from many other HOS rules in that a driver must not change work reporting locations for the day.

  • The rule is based upon point of commodity, and not work reporting location. The 150 air mile range starts at the location of the commodity.

  • A driver must provide and update the center point of the 150 air-mile radius at any given point, but it can only be done once per shift.

  • The driver must stay within 150 air-miles of the work reporting location for the day (draw a 150 air-mile radius circle around the work reporting location for the day - the driver must stay within this circle.)

  • The driver must include the starting and ending times for the day and the total hours on duty on the time record for the day in a log.

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

  • Short Haul 150 Air Mile Ag drivers are not required to take a break during their day/shift.

  • Ag drivers may drive past the 150 air-mile at which the log must obey and record against HOS rules. Hours and information recorded prior to leaving the 150 air-mile radius are not counted towards the standard HOS.

  • If the driver re-enters the 150 air-mile radius then the standard HOS recording is paused.

Federal Exemption - Short Haul Non-CDL 150 Air Mile

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles with several exceptions:

  • Operate property-carrying vehicles that do not require a CDL to operate.

  • A driver must not change work reporting locations for the day.

  • Additionally, a driver must be back to — and released from — the work reporting location for his/her 10-hour OFF within 14 hours.

  • The driver must stay within 150 air-miles of the work reporting location for the day (draw a 150 air-mile radius circle around the work reporting location for the day — the driver must stay within this circle).

  • The driver must include the starting and ending times for the day and the total hours on duty on the time record for the day in a log.

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

  • Short Haul 150 Air Mile drivers are not required to take a break during their day/shift

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 14-Hour Limit. May not BE ON beyond the 12th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

  • Failing to meet the criteria above requires the driver to complete a standard log for that day.

Federal Exemption - Short Haul (+16 Hour Rule)

  • Uses base rules of Federal Standard - Property Carrying Vehicles, with several exceptions

  • The driver must have been using the same work reporting location for the last 5 duty shifts/working days.

  • Additionally, a driver must be back to — and released from — the work reporting location for his/her 10-hour OFF within 16 hours.

  • This exemption can only be invoked one time in each 34-hour reset cycle once the 5-day pattern has been established.

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 11-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 16-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 16th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 16-hour period.

  • Break - B (OFF): May drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since the end of driver’s last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes.

  • Off Duty - OFF 60/70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • Sleeper Berth - SB: Drivers using the sleeper berth provision must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two. See the following for example https://www.truckdrivingjobs.com/blog/867/sleeper-berth-rule-what-you-need-to-know.html

  • A Company can offer either the 60 Hour rule or the 70 Hour rule.

Texas State Exemption - Short Haul 150 Air Mile Rule

  • Uses base rules of Texas Intrastate - 70/7 Day Rule, with several exceptions:

  • The driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location.

  • The driver returns to the work reporting location and is released from work within 14 consecutive hours.

  • Every 14 hours on duty are separated by at least 8 consecutive hours off duty.

  • The driver does not exceed a maximum of 14 hours driving time following 8 consecutive hours off duty.

  • Driver must have been using the same work reporting location for the last 5 duty shifts/working days

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

  • Off Duty - OFF: Must have 8 consecutive hours off duty before working a "shift"

  • Drive - D: 12-Hour Limit. May drive a maximum of 14 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty.

  • On Duty - ON 12-Hour Limit. May not be ON beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 8 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

  • Off Duty - OFF 70-Hour Limit. May not drive after 70 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

  • No Break required.

Florida State Exemption - Short Haul 150 Air Mile Rule

  • Uses base rules of Florida Intrastate - 70/7 80/8 Day Rule, with several exceptions:

  • The driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location.

  • The driver returns to the work reporting location and is released from work within 12 consecutive hours.

  • Every 12 hours on duty are separated by at least 8 consecutive hours off duty. The driver does not exceed a maximum of 12 hours driving time following 8 consecutive hours off duty.No Break required.

  • The driver is not required to keep a "traditional" log for the day, but rather a record of time as prescribed above.

Emergency Exceptions

If enabled, these are notated (annotated) against the Primary Duty Status that is being recorded. These can be universally applied to either Federal or Intrastate rules

  • Emergency Conditions - Removes any/all restrictions on the log for the driver. No violations will be incurred when active, but a log is still recorded.

  • Adverse Driving Conditions - Gives the driver an additional 2 hours of Drivetime.

Additional Reference Material:

Did this answer your question?