How Many Hours and Miles Can a Trucker Legally Drive a Day by DOT Rules?
A truck driver can drive for up to 11 hours for every period of 14 consecutive hours that the driver is on-duty, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Between each 14-hour block of work time, there must be an off-duty period of no less than 10 consecutive hours.
There are also mandatory rest breaks that drivers must take during their work shifts. As stated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a driver may not drive if more than eight hours have passed since their last rest break. These breaks must be a minimum of 30 minutes long. Most drivers cannot go eight hours straight without some kind of break, as J.J. Keller & Associates points out. Drivers can apply break times throughout their 14-hour work windows as needed.
