Federal hours of service rules generally limit property-carrying truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty, with weekly limits of 60 or 70 hours. In a Nevada crash claim, a violation of these rules may be evidence of negligence, and driver logs can help show whether one occurred.
This guide explains the main rules, the common exceptions, and how hours of service records are used in a claim.
Key Takeaways
- 49 CFR 395.3 sets the 11-hour, 14-hour, and 60/70-hour limits for property-carrying drivers.
- After 8 cumulative hours of driving, a 30-consecutive-minute interruption in driving is required, which off-duty, sleeper-berth, or on-duty not-driving time can satisfy.
- Most drivers record their hours on an electronic logging device.
- Carriers must keep duty status records for at least 6 months.
- A violation may be evidence of negligence, but it still has to be linked to the crash.
What Are the Hours of Service Limits for Truck Drivers?
| Rule | Limit for property-carrying drivers |
|---|---|
| Off-duty period | 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving |
| Driving limit | 11 hours of driving |
| Duty window | No driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty |
| Driving interruption | 30 consecutive minutes after 8 cumulative hours of driving; off-duty, sleeper-berth, or on-duty not-driving time counts |
| Weekly limit | 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days |
| Restart | 34 or more consecutive hours off duty |
Source: 49 CFR 395.3 and the FMCSA summary.
What Are the Common Exceptions?
- Adverse driving conditions. FMCSA says drivers may extend the 11-hour limit and 14-hour window by up to 2 hours.
- Short-haul. FMCSA says drivers who stay within 150 air miles of their normal work reporting location and return within 14 hours are exempt from certain record requirements. Under 49 CFR 395.3, qualifying short-haul drivers are also excepted from the 30-minute interruption.
- Other exceptions. The regulations list others, so whether a limit applied depends on the driver and the trip.
Nevada’s regulations under NAC Chapter 706 adopt 49 CFR Part 395 by reference. Nevada’s definitions for intrastate carriers can differ from the federal ones, so some smaller intrastate trucks may not be covered.
How Are a Driver’s Hours Recorded?
Under 49 CFR 395.8, motor carriers generally must require drivers to record duty status with an electronic logging device, or ELD. Exceptions include drivers who need records on no more than 8 days in a 30-day period and vehicles manufactured before model year 2000. Carriers must keep records of duty status and supporting documents for at least 6 months.
How Can a Violation Affect a Nevada Crash Claim?
A violation may show that a driver was on the road longer than allowed. In Barnes v. Delta Lines, Inc., a 1983 decision involving Nevada traffic statutes, the Nevada Supreme Court said an unexcused violation of a statute designed to protect a class of persons including the plaintiff is negligence per se if it proximately causes injury, and that proximate cause is a question for the jury. See negligence per se in Nevada.
A violation alone does not prove a claim. The evidence still needs to link the driver’s conduct to the crash. In FMCSA’s Large Truck Crash Causation Study of 2001 to 2003 crashes, fatigue was recorded for 13% of trucks, though a factor being present does not mean it caused a crash.
Can the Trucking Company Be Responsible?
It may be. Under the federal rules, a carrier must require ELD use and keep records. If a carrier’s scheduling or practices played a role, its own conduct may be reviewed along with the driver’s. See how a truck accident claim works.
What Is the Deadline?
Nevada generally allows 2 years to sue for personal injury under NRS 11.190(4)(e). Exceptions can apply. Because duty status records may be kept for only 6 months, preservation can matter long before the filing deadline. See truck accident investigation.
Talk With a Nevada Truck Accident Lawyer
Vaksman Khalfin, PC handles Nevada truck accident claims and has an office in Las Vegas. A lawyer can review your situation and explain the options that may be available. Contact us or visit our Nevada truck accident page to learn more.
General information, not legal advice. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page or contacting the firm. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Reviewed by Robert B. Vaksman, Partner, Vaksman Khalfin, PC (admitted in Nevada). Last reviewed: 11/11/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Under 49 CFR 395.3, a property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Exceptions can apply.
Drivers may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, depending on the carrier's schedule. A 34-hour off-duty period can restart the count.
Under 49 CFR 395.8(k), carriers must keep records of duty status and supporting documents for at least 6 months.
Not by itself. A violation may be evidence of negligence, but the evidence must still connect it to the crash and the injuries.
