FMCSA Hours of Service & Load Rules for Commercial Trucks

Key Takeaways

• ⏰ Truckers must follow strict FMCSA Hours of Service limits — 11 hours max driving, 14-hour duty limit, 30-minute breaks, and 60/70-hour weekly caps.
• 💤 Fatigue kills. HOS rules exist to keep tired truckers off the road and protect everyone’s safety.
• ⚖️ Texas drivers follow similar intrastate rules — up to 12 driving hours after 8 off-duty — designed to cut fatigue-related wrecks.
• 📦 Improperly loaded trucks = disaster. Federal load rules require secure tie-downs and balanced cargo to prevent rollovers and falling debris.
• 🚨 Breaking HOS or load rules = negligence. These violations often serve as key evidence in truck accident lawsuits.
• 💥 Truck companies that cut corners risk lives — and liability.
• 🧾 After a crash: Follow your doctor’s orders, track your losses, stay off social media, and call The Callahan Law Firm right away.

Were you or a family member injured in a crash because a truck driver or their employer ignored safety regulations? Rules for safe driving exist to protect everyone on the road, and the results can be devastating when truck drivers and trucking companies break them.

At The Callahan Law Firm, our truck accident attorneys have successfully represented people and families injured in truck accident cases for over 30 years. Our personal injury lawyers work to prepare every case as if it will go to trial. For the people we represent, we commit the time, energy, and resources necessary to obtain the best possible result under the law. Full compensation under the law includes recovering money damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, physical impairment, mental anguish, and other losses.

Attorney Michael S. Callahan is board-certified in personal injury trial law and has been practicing law successfully for over 30 years. His law partner, Casey M. Brown, brings valuable insight from over 20 years as a lawyer, including a background defending insurance companies. We are ready to put our experience to work for you now.

Do not wait to take action, or you could limit your ability to recover full compensation. Contact The Callahan Law Firm today or call now at (713) 589-7767 for a free case evaluation with an experienced Houston truck accident attorney. Our office is conveniently located at 440 Louisiana St #2050, Houston, TX. Yes! Your personal injury consultation is free.

What Are the Federal Motor Carrier Hours of Service Regulations?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets hours of service rules (HOS) to prevent driver fatigue among truckers and reduce the risk of crashes. HOS regulations apply to any truck driver or trucking company with routes that cross state lines. In addition, states, including the state of Texas, have adopted these rules to protect the public.

Some key federal motor carrier hours of service regulations include:

• Property-carrying drivers may drive up to 11 hours only after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• A driver may not drive beyond their 14th consecutive hour on duty, even if they have not used all 11 driving hours during the on-duty time.
• Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption.
• The 60/70-hour rule limits truckers to 60 driving hours in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on the carrier’s schedule.
• A driver may restart their 7- or 8-day period after taking 34 consecutive hours of off-duty time.

Purpose and Importance of HOS Rules

It is a well-documented fact that fatigue can affect truck drivers’ reaction times, judgment, and awareness. Hours of service rules are designed to make roads safer by setting strict limits on how long truck drivers can operate without rest. By requiring mandatory breaks, daily limits, and weekly caps, HOS regulations aim to reduce the likelihood of accidents linked to overwork and fatigue.

Hours of service rules also protect commercial drivers by providing them with structured rest periods that support their health and alertness.

For people injured in a truck accident, HOS compliance matters because records of driving hours often reveal whether a trucking company or truck driver ignored safety requirements.

Texas Intrastate vs. Federal Hours of Service Rules

Truck drivers in Texas must follow federal and state hours of service rules, depending on whether they operate across state lines (interstate) or remain within Texas (intrastate). Texas has adopted most of the federal safety trucking regulations for commercial motor vehicles that operate solely in the state. Federal HOS rules apply to interstate carriers, while Texas sets separate intrastate rules.

Under Texas law, drivers who stay within the state may drive up to 12 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty. They cannot remain on duty for more than 15 straight hours, even if they have not yet reached the 12-hour driving limit. Texas also applies a 70-hour limit in 7 consecutive days, with a 34-hour off-duty period to restart the cycle.

The Texas HOS rules differ from the federal 11- and 14-hour limits but aim for the same purpose of reducing fatigue-related risks. When truck accidents happen, knowing which set of regulations applies helps determine whether a driver or carrier has broken the law.

Truck Loading Rules and Risks of Improper Loading

Federal regulations also set strict rules for loading and securing a commercial truck’s payload. The standards help prevent cargo from shifting, falling, or adding unsafe stress to a vehicle during travel. The rules apply to all property-carrying trucks in interstate commerce.

Some examples of key federal truck loading and cargo-securement rules include:

• Cargo must be immobilized by structures, dunnage, or at least two tie-downs if the load is under 10 feet in length. Longer loads require at least one additional tie-down for every 10 feet of length.
• Tie-downs must meet working load limit standards, and the total strength of securement devices must equal at least half the weight of the cargo.
• Cargo heavier than 10,000 pounds must be secured with at least two tie-downs regardless of length.
• Special rules apply to hazardous cargo, logs, metal coils, vehicles, and intermodal containers, each requiring specific securement methods.
• Cargo must never block a driver’s view or interfere with access to emergency equipment.

Commercial motor vehicle drivers and trucking companies must follow these rules because improper loading poses grave dangers to everyone on the road. Cargo that shifts can cause rollovers, jackknife accidents, or loss of control. Overloaded trucks also need longer stopping distances and create greater risks for nearby drivers. When cargo falls from a trailer, it can strike other vehicles or force sudden evasive actions that lead to collisions.

Establishing a violation of the loading rules can provide critical evidence of negligence in truck accident claims.

Violations of HOS Regulations and Loading Rules: Legal Consequences

The legal consequences are often significant when a truck driver or trucking company violates HOS rules or loading regulations. Such violations all too often form the basis of truck accident claims because they show a direct disregard for safety standards.

Federal and state law also allow for civil penalties, fines, and even restrictions on a carrier’s operating authority after repeated violations of the rules. In addition, courts may admit records from electronic logging devices, driver’s logs, and weigh station reports as evidence of negligence in civil lawsuits.

Protect Your Rights After a Truck Accident

Proving that a truck driver or trucking company broke safety regulations requires a deep understanding of trucking regulations, both interstate and intrastate. Let our experienced truck accident attorneys handle the investigation and gather the essential evidence to support your truck accident claim while you focus on healing.

Follow these steps to protect your rights as we work to investigate the crash:

• Follow your doctor’s instructions and attend follow-up appointments.
• Keep track of your medical providers, including hospitals, doctors, and physical therapists.
• Retain records of your medical expenses, lost income, repair estimates, and other proof of your financial losses.
• Do not talk to any insurance companies or give recorded statements without legal representation.
• Do not discuss the crash or your injuries on social media.
• Contact our Houston truck accident attorneys at The Callahan Law Firm as soon as possible.

Do not let a careless truck driver or trucking company get away with not following the rules for safe driving. Call The Callahan Law Firm now at (713) 589-7767 or complete our contact form for a free consultation.