• Drivers of property- and passenger-carrying CMVs that operate within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work-reporting location and return to that location to be released from work within 14 consecutive hours are excused from using the standard grid-style timekeeping log (daily RODS) if certain criteria are met.
• When the exception is used, the motor carrier must maintain certain time records.

A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver who operates locally — within a 150 air-mile radius — may qualify for certain exceptions from federal hours-of-service rules. The 150-air-mile or “short-haul” exceptions apply to drivers and motor carriers operating property-carrying and passenger-carrying CMVs in interstate commerce.

Qualifying drivers may use simpler time records and, depending on the type of vehicle being driven, may be exempt from 30-minute breaks, the standard 14-hour limit, and the need to keep supporting documents.

The exceptions are described in:

• 395.1(e)(1) for passenger-carrying CMV drivers and drivers of property-carrying CMVs that require a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• 395.1(e)(2) for drivers of property-carrying CMVs that do not require a CDL

Key definitions

150 air-mile radius: A distance of 150 air miles is equivalent to 172.6 statute (road) miles.

Commercial driver’s license (CDL): A license issued to an individual by a state or other jurisdiction, in accordance with federal standards contained in 383, which authorizes the individual to operate a certain class of commercial motor vehicle. In this case, “commercial motor vehicle” is defined in 383.5 (not the definition shown below).

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV): A self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway, in interstate commerce, that meets any one of the following criteria:

• Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR), or gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross combination weight (GCW), of 10,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater; or
• Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or
• Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver), and not used to transport passengers for compensation; or
• Is transporting hazardous materials of a type or quantity which requires placarding.

Summary of requirements for the exception

A CMV driver is not required to use a standard grid-style timekeeping log (known as a record of duty status (RODS)) if 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, and the following additional criteria are met:

• The driver of a property-carrying CMV:
  • Has at least 10 consecutive hours off duty separating each 14 duty hours, and
  • Does not drive more than 11 hours following at least 10 consecutive hours off duty;
• The driver of a passenger-carrying CMV:
  • Has at least 8 consecutive hours off duty separate each 14 hours on duty, and
  • Does not drive more than 10 hours following at least 8 consecutive hours off duty; and
• The motor carrier maintains the driver’s time records for six months showing:
  • The time the driver reports for duty each day,
  • The time the driver is released from duty each day,
  • The total number of hours the driver is on duty each day, and
  • The total time on duty for the preceding seven days for drivers used for the first time or intermittently.

The mandatory 30-minute break and supporting-document requirements do not apply to the driver of a property-carrying CMV who qualifies for this exception.

A 150 air-mile radius driver is not exempt from the 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day limit.

Additional exceptions for non-CDL trucks

Additional exceptions are available to short-haul drivers of property-carrying CMVs who are not required to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the vehicle being driven. The same limits and recordkeeping requirements as listed above must be met, except that the drivers:

• Are not required to be released from work after they return to the work reporting location (that is, they may continue to perform non-driving work); and
• May exceed the 14-hour limit by up to two hours, up to twice per seven days. Specifically, these drivers must not drive a CMV:
  • After the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty on at least five days in any period of seven consecutive days; or
  • After the 16th consecutive hour after coming on duty on up to two days in any period of seven consecutive days.

A driver who uses this provision (for non-CDL vehicles) is not eligible to use the sleeper-berth exception (395.1(g)) or the once-per-week 16-hour exception (395.1(o)).