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The purpose of the hours-of-service regulations, including the 8-hour off-duty rule, is to keep fatigued drivers off the road.
This requirement applies to drivers and motor carriers operating passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
The driver of a passenger-carrying CMV must have 8 consecutive hours away from work before first getting behind the wheel of a CMV. Getting these 8 hours of rest makes the driver eligible to drive for a full 10 hours within a 15-hour on-duty period.
There are four ways to obtain the required rest:
When a driver gets 8 consecutive hours of rest, the driver is eligible to drive for up to 10 hours within a 15-hour on-duty period, provided the driver has time available under the 60-hour or 70-hour limit.
When using a sleeper berth in two non-consecutive periods of time to accumulate the required 8 hours off: