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The purpose of the hours-of-service regulations, including the 70-hour/8-day limit, is to keep fatigued drivers off the road.
This requirement applies to drivers and motor carriers operating property-carrying and passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
Drivers who are assigned to the 70-hour/8-day limit:
The 70-hour/8-day limit is only an option for companies that operate CMVs every day of the week. Otherwise, the 60-hour/7-day limit must be followed. A motor carrier with one or more CMVs operating every day of the week may assign some or all of its drivers to the 70-hour/8-day limit, or may assign some or all drivers to the 60-hour/7-day limit.
“Eight consecutive days” does not mean a calendar week (e.g., Sunday through Saturday); it means any eight-consecutive-day period. A driver doesn’t really “start over” counting total hours. The oldest day’s hours drop out of consideration as each new day’s hours are added.
Drivers of property-carrying CMVs may reset the 70-hour limit by taking 34 consecutive hours off.
Exceptions. The regulations include several exceptions for certain types of situations and/or operations: