14-Hour On-Duty Rule

Definition

The 14-hour on-duty rule under 49 CFR §395.3(a)(2) prohibits a property-carrying CMV driver from driving after the 14th consecutive hour following the start of duty for that day. The 14-hour clock starts when the driver first goes on duty (whether driving or non-driving) and runs continuously through breaks; only a 10-hour off-duty period restarts it. The 2020 final rule introduced a sleeper-berth split exception (e.g., 7+3 or 8+2) that allows a qualifying break to pause the 14-hour clock. The 14-hour clock and the 11-hour driving clock run independently - a driver can exhaust either limit first.