What Is the 60/70 Rule for Truck Drivers

Truckers play a vital role in keeping America’s supply chain moving, but the long hours and constant deadlines can take a heavy toll on their health and safety. What is the 60 70 rule for truck drivers? To help prevent fatigue-related crashes, federal law defines a regulation that limits how many hours truckers can stay on duty before mandatory rest. This rule outlines clear time limits to protect drivers and the public from exhaustion-related dangers. At Montee Law Firm, our trusted St. Joseph truck accident lawyer team works closely with individuals and families affected by collisions involving violations of this critical safety regulation.

The “60/70 rule” falls under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Hours of Service (HOS) rules. It restricts truckers from driving after 60 hours on duty in seven days or 70 hours in eight days, depending on the carrier’s work schedule. A driver can reset the cycle by taking 34 straight hours off duty. These limits exist to help truckers stay rested and to prevent fatigue-related accidents that put Missouri drivers in danger.

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Understanding the 60/70 Hour Rule

The 60/70 hour rule limits a truck driver’s total hours on duty within a set timeframe. As stated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the rule varies slightly depending on the trucking company’s operations:

• 60-hour/7-day rule: Applies to companies that don’t run trucks every day of the week.
• 70-hour/8-day rule: Applies to carriers that operate daily without pause.

Once drivers reach the on-duty limit, they must stop driving and take a minimum 34-hour off-duty break before returning to work. That break helps drivers recover from fatigue and return to the road with sharper focus. Ignoring this rest requirement makes the driver more likely to make mistakes or cause a serious crash.

How the Rule Limits Driving Hours

The FMCSA’s Part 395 of the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations clearly forbids carriers from requiring or allowing a driver to exceed these limits:

1. More than 60 hours on duty in seven consecutive days, or
2. More than 70 hours on duty in eight straight days.

Drivers rely on electronic logging devices (ELDs) to document every hour they spend working, resting, or driving. These logs are essential for proving compliance and can serve as evidence in the aftermath of a trucking collision. When a driver or company ignores these regulations, the liability risk grows dramatically, especially if a crash occurs while the driver is over the legal limit.

Why the 60/70 Rule Matters for Safety

Exhaustion is one of the most dangerous conditions a truck driver can face. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that truckers driving for more than eight hours are twice as likely to be in an accident. Fatigue blurs judgment, delays reactions, and can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. Even a few seconds of microsleep can be enough to cause a devastating collision on Missouri highways.

Fatigue-related truck crashes can quickly turn deadly along busy routes like Interstate 29 and U.S. Highway 36 near St. Joseph. Enforcing the 60/70 rule helps protect everyone on the road by giving drivers the time they need to rest, recharge, and drive responsibly. These rules are not just technical requirements but vital safety measures that save lives.

How Violations of the 60/70 Rule Can Lead to Accidents

When trucking companies push drivers to meet tight delivery times, it often leads to cutting corners on rest and recordkeeping. Many drivers struggle to stay alert after long hours behind the wheel, and that’s when errors happen. Common results of breaking the 60/70 rule can include:

• Losing focus or drifting between lanes after hours of fatigue
• Falsified or incomplete electronic logs that hide how long someone has really been working
• Supervisors or dispatchers urging drivers to keep going despite being overtired

In Missouri, proving that a driver or company ignored these federal time limits can play a significant role in an injury case. Evidence of a violation may clearly show negligence, helping injured victims pursue compensation for their medical bills, missed income, property damage, and the hardship caused by a crash that could have been avoided.

Consult a St. Joseph Truck Accident Lawyer for Guidance

At Montee Law Firm, we understand how complex truck accident claims can be. Our legal team reviews logbooks, digital data, and dispatch records to determine whether fatigue or regulatory violations caused the crash. Every case we take is handled with dedication and personal care.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a significant truck collision, call (816) 364-1650 to speak with a skilled St. Joseph truck accident lawyer who can help you pursue justice and fair financial recovery.

James Montee

James Montee, founder and managing partner of the Montee Law Firm, has dedicated his career to representing accident victims across Missouri and Kansas. Since establishing the firm in 1996, he has recovered more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements, including numerous million-dollar cases. Recognized as Missouri’s Winningest Lawyer in 2013, James brings decades of experience and a strong commitment to maximizing results for his clients.

free case consultation call us: (816) 364-1650