Hours of Service

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Hours of Service course, and what does it cover? +
  • The Hours of Service (HOS) course is a training program designed to educate commercial drivers and carriers on regulations that limit driving time and mandate rest periods to prevent fatigue-related accidents. It’s critical for compliance with safety laws in both the US and Canada.
  • The regulations that came into effect on January 1^st of 2007 concerning Hours of Service are the focus of this course.
  • In Canada, it focuses on Transport Canada’s rules, like the 13-hour driving limit and cycle-based duty periods (e.g., 70 hours in 7 days or 120 hours in 14 days). In the US, the course typically covers Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules, such as the 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour on-duty limit, and mandatory 10-hour off-duty period, along with electronic logging device (ELD) requirements.
  • Topics often include duty status categories (driving, on-duty not driving, off-duty, sleeper berth), record-keeping via ELDs, and exemptions (e.g., personal conveyance or short-haul operations). Fatigue management strategies are included to reinforce learning.
  • US vs. Canada Difference: The US enforces an 11-hour daily driving limit and requires a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, while Canada allows 13 hours of driving with no mandatory mid-shift break, offering more flexibility but requiring stricter cycle resets (e.g., 36 hours off for Cycle 1 in Canada vs. 34 hours in the US). If interested in a course that spans both Canadian and US regulations, please refer to our “Federal Hours of Service Course – Canadian and US Regulations” course here.
• How long does it take to complete the Hours of Service course? +
  • Our Hours of Service course takes approximately 4 hours to complete.
• Who needs to take the Hours of Service course, and is it mandatory? +
  • This course is applicable to Commercial vehicle drivers, shippers/receivers, safety and law enforcement officers, truck and cargo van owners as well as passenger transportation providers and their employees.
  • The course is essential for commercial drivers operating vehicles over 4,500 kg (Canada) or 10,001 lbs (US), including truckers, bus drivers, and cross-border operators, as well as carriers enforcing compliance. It’s not legally mandatory but highly recommended to avoid violations.
  • In Canada, it’s critical for drivers under federal jurisdiction (interprovincial/international) since ELDs became mandatory in 2023. In the US, new drivers or those transitioning to interstate hauling often take it as part of entry-level training or employer onboarding.
  • Exemptions exist—e.g., short-haul drivers (within 100 air miles in the US or 160 km in Canada) may not need ELDs or extensive training if they don’t log hours electronically. However, employers may still require it for safety and liability reasons.
  • US vs. Canada Difference: Canada’s rules apply to vehicles over 4,500 kg for federal carriers, while the US threshold is higher (10,001 lbs), and provincial Canadian rules (e.g., Alberta’s 11,794 kg) differ from federal ones, creating varied training needs.
• What are the main differences between US and Canadian Hours of Service rules? +
  • Driving Limits: The US caps daily driving at 11 hours within a 14-hour on-duty window, with a mandatory 30-minute break after 8 hours. Canada allows 13 hours of driving in a 14-hour window, with no mid-shift break requirement, giving drivers more daily flexibility.
  • Rest Periods: The US mandates 10 consecutive off-duty hours daily, while Canada requires 10 hours total, including 8 consecutive hours plus 2 additional hours (in 30-minute+ blocks), allowing split rest strategies.
  • Weekly Cycles: The US uses a 60-hour limit in 7 days (or 70 in 8) with a 34-hour reset, while Canada offers Cycle 1 (70 hours in 7 days, 36-hour reset) or Cycle 2 (120 hours in 14 days, 72-hour reset), plus a mandatory 24-hour off-duty period every 14 days.
  • US vs. Canada Difference: Canada’s rules are more lenient on daily driving (13 vs. 11 hours) but stricter on long-term rest (e.g., 24-hour break every 14 days), reflecting a balance between flexibility and fatigue prevention.
• How do electronic logging devices (ELDs) relate to the Hours of Service course? +
  • ELDs are integral to HOS compliance, automatically tracking driving time, duty status, and rest periods, replacing paper logs. The course teaches drivers how to use ELDs, interpret data, and avoid violations, as both the US (since 2017) and Canada (since 2023) mandate them for most commercial drivers.
  • Training covers ELD setup, editing logs (e.g., for personal conveyance), and troubleshooting—crucial since manual errors can lead to fines. It also explains exemptions (e.g., US drivers pre-2000 vehicles; Canada’s 160 km radius drivers with time records).