Hours of Service and Passenger-Carrier Regulations
This domain tests the hours-of-service limits and basic passenger-carrier rules that apply to passenger-carrying CMVs. The exam distinguishes passenger rules from property-carrying rules and checks whether you can calculate remaining driving and on-duty time.
Passenger HOS limits
- After 8 consecutive hours off duty, a driver may drive up to 10 hours.
- The driver may not drive after 15 hours on duty following that 8-hour break.
- The 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day limit also applies. Do not drive after either limit is reached.
- Keep records of duty status or ELD records as required, and retain supporting documents.
Carrier and driver basics
- Hold the correct CDL with passenger endorsement and a current medical certification.
- For-hire interstate passenger carriers need operating authority, insurance, and USDOT identification unless exempt; vehicles must be marked as required.
- Follow the texting and handheld-phone prohibitions and use seat belts.
Worked example
A driver reports at 06:00 and by 19:00 has been on duty 13 hours and has driven 9 hours. Reasoning: the 15-hour window allows 2 more on-duty hours, but the 10-hour driving limit allows only 1 more driving hour. The driver may drive until 20:00, not until 21:00.
Traps
- Using the property-carrying 11-hour/14-hour limits instead of passenger 10-hour/15-hour limits.
- Counting only driving time and ignoring the on-duty window.
- Assuming a short break resets the 15-hour window; only the required off-duty period does.
- Running past the 60/70-hour limit because the daily limits look compliant.