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Difficulty: MediumHours of Service (HOS) Regulations

An interstate commercial driver begins a duty shift at 07:00 following 10 consecutive hours off duty. By 17:00, the driver has accumulated 6 hours of driving time and 4 hours of on-duty (not driving) time. Assuming no additional non-driving breaks are taken, what is the maximum number of driving hours remaining before reaching an Hours of Service limit for this shift?

  1. A
    5 hours
  2. 4 hoursAnswer
  3. C
    7 hours
  4. D
    8 hours

Answer

4 hours
A property-carrying commercial motor vehicle driver operating under FMCSA regulations has an 11-hour maximum driving limit within a 14-consecutive-hour duty window. Having started at 07:00, the driver's 14-hour window strictly closes at 21:00. At 17:00, 10 consecutive hours have passed, leaving 4 hours remaining in the duty window. Although the driver has only used 6 of the 11 allowed driving hours (11−6=5 hours available11 - 6 = 5\text{ hours available}), driving is cut short by the closing 14-hour window, permitting a maximum of 4 driving hours.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the expiration time of the 14-hour consecutive driving window.
The 14-hour window ends at 21:00.
Under FMCSR, a property-carrying driver cannot drive after the 14th consecutive hour coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty (07:00+14 hours=21:0007:00 + 14\text{ hours} = 21:00).
2
Calculate the remaining time inside the 14-hour window from the current time (17:00).
4 hours remaining in the window.
From 17:00 to 21:00 is 21:00−17:00=4 hours21:00 - 17:00 = 4\text{ hours}.
3
Calculate remaining driving hours under the 11-hour driving limit.
5 hours remaining on the driving clock.
The driver has driven 6 hours out of the allowable 11 hours (11−6=5 hours11 - 6 = 5\text{ hours}).
4
Identify the limiting constraint between the driving cap and the window.
4 hours maximum driving remaining.
Because the 14-hour window expires in 4 hours, driving must cease at 21:00 regardless of the 1 unspent driving hour on the 11-hour clock.

Key Concept

Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, driving is prohibited beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, meaning the 14-hour window can limit allowable driving time before the 11-hour cumulative driving limit is reached.
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations

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