General educational information, not legal advice. Review scope: federal rules and Texas/Wisconsin examples only, where stated—not a review of every state’s law. Applicable law, coverage, and deadlines depend on the jurisdiction and facts.
The usual federal property-carrier limits
For covered property-carrying drivers, the ordinary federal rule allows up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Driving is also limited by a 14-consecutive-hour window after coming on duty following the required off-duty period. This is not permission to drive 14 hours.
A driver ordinarily needs a 30-consecutive-minute interruption after eight cumulative hours of driving without such an interruption. The interruption can include on-duty non-driving time; it is not necessarily 30 minutes off duty. The weekly limits prohibit driving after 60 or 70 on-duty hours in seven or eight consecutive days, respectively. Those are on-duty totals, not simply driving totals.
These rules have scope limits and exceptions
Passenger carriers have different limits. Qualifying short-haul operations, sleeper-berth arrangements, adverse driving conditions and other exceptions can affect particular requirements. Intrastate rules may differ. A short-haul exception is not a general exemption from all driving limits.
The right analysis starts with the operation, cargo or passengers, jurisdiction, duty records, and specific exception claimed—not just the size of the truck.
Staying within the clock does not make fatigue safe
A driver can be dangerously tired while technically within time limits. The federal fatigue rule restricts operation when fatigue, illness, or another cause impairs alertness enough to make driving unsafe; it also restricts a carrier from requiring or permitting that operation.
After a collision, relevant records may include electronic logs, dispatch messages, trip and fuel records, and available location data. Preserve the original information promptly. A suspected hours violation is a reason to investigate, not automatic proof of who caused the collision.