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The purpose of the hours-of-service regulations, including the 34-hour restart, is to keep fatigued drivers off the road.
This optional provision applies to drivers and motor carriers operating property-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
Drivers of property-carrying CMVs have the option to “restart” their calculation of the 60-hour/7-day limit or 70-hour/8-day limit by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off. The time may be spent off duty, in a sleeper berth, or using any combination of the two.
Any 34 consecutive hours off, at any time or in any location, will serve to reset the clock. Once at least 34 hours of rest have been taken, a new 7- or 8-day period begins and the hours worked before the rest break began are no longer taken into consideration.
Exceptions. The following drivers are eligible to restart the 7- or 8-day period with just 24 consecutive hours off: