• A break of at least 30 consecutive minutes after 8 cumulative hours of “driving” time is required for any driver of a property-carrying CMV.
• The 30-minute break from driving need not be spent resting but may be spent doing anything other than driving, including being off duty, in a sleeper berth, and/or performing on-duty activities.
• The 30-minute break requirement does not apply to drivers transporting livestock or bees, certain specialized loads, certain mobile cranes, or drivers using one of the 150-air-mile short-haul exceptions.

The driving of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is not allowed if the driver has already done 8 hours of CMV driving without having a break from driving of at least 30 consecutive minutes. A break is not required for any driver who will not drive a CMV for more than 8 hours after having 10 hours off.

Federal definitions

Driving time: All time spent at the controls of a CMV in operation. The required 30-minute break may be spent doing anything other than driving, including being off duty, in a sleeper berth, and/or performing on-duty activities (loading/unloading, paperwork, inspections, attending the load, etc.).

Any activity that takes the driver away from driving for at least 30 consecutive minutes is considered a valid break, even if the driver is not resting. At any point during the day, if a driver is away from driving for at least 30 minutes, the driver is eligible to drive a CMV for up to eight hours before another 30-minute interruption is needed (unless another limit is reached before then).

Key points to note:

• A 30-minute break will not stop the 14-hour clock.
• Total driving time is limited to 11 hours after 10 hours off, even with 30-minute breaks.
• Drivers are not required to enter any special log notes specifying when breaks from driving were taken, even if multiple 30-minute breaks were taken.
• Time spent driving a CMV for personal conveyance or for a “yard move” is not counted as “driving” time.

Caution: Technically, neither a “yard move” nor personal conveyance are logged as “driving” time but allowing drivers to claim that such driving time counts as a break from driving may carry risks if drivers become fatigued.

30-minute break exceptions

The 30-minute break requirement does not apply to:

• Drivers using one of the 150-air-mile short-haul exceptions in 395.1(e).
• Drivers transporting livestock (as defined in 395.2) or bees, due to concerns about the health of the animals. This exception does not apply when the livestock or bees are unloaded.
• Drivers of specialized loads moving in interstate commerce that exceed normal weight and dimensional limits and require a permit issued by a government authority. This exemption is in effect until June 17, 2025. Details may be found in the Federal Register notice issued on June 24, 2020.
• Drivers operating mobile cranes with a rated lifting capacity of greater than 30 tons. This exemption is currently in effect until November 1, 2023, but may be extended. Details may be found in the Federal Register notice issued on November 27, 2018, available upon request.