Hours of Service and Fatigue Management for Passenger Carriers
Hours of Service and Fatigue Management for Passenger Carriers
This domain tests federal hours-of-service rules for passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles and the fatigue judgment behind them. Georgia intrastate rules can differ, so read the question carefully for "interstate" or "intrastate."
Federal passenger-carrier limits (49 CFR 395.5)
- 10-hour driving limit: after 10 hours of driving, you need 8 consecutive hours off duty before driving again.
- 15-hour on-duty limit: you may not drive after 15 hours on duty, following 8 consecutive hours off duty.
- 8 consecutive hours off duty must separate each on-duty period.
- 60/70-hour limit: 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. Do not drive after reaching the limit.
- Time waiting for dispatch, loading, or paperwork is generally on duty unless you are relieved of all duty and can rest.
Fatigue management
- Get sleep before the trip; do not rely on caffeine to extend a shift.
- Recognize signs: lane drifting, missed signs, heavy eyes, irritability.
- Take a break before you are impaired; a short nap in a safe parking area is better than pushing through.
- Do not drink and drive; alcohol and fatigue compound.
Worked example
A driver reports at 6:00 a.m. and is on duty. She drives 3 hours, waits 4 hours at a terminal, drives 2 hours, and then has more passengers to carry. At 9:00 p.m. she reaches 15 hours on duty. Even if she has only driven 5 hours and has 5 hours of the 10-hour driving limit left, she cannot drive after 9:00 p.m. without 8 consecutive hours off duty. The 15-hour limit is the binding rule.
Traps
- Counting only driving time and ignoring on-duty waiting.
- Applying the 11-hour property-carrier driving limit to a passenger bus.
- Assuming a 30-minute break resets the 15-hour clock; it does not.
- Treating "off-duty" time as rest when you are still responsible for the bus.