What is the 34 Hour Reset and Why is it Important?
As a truck driver or fleet owner, understanding the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations for the 34 hour reset can be very helpful. The FMCSA has specific limitations regarding how drivers can use the 34 hour reset to comply with maximum limits on the hours of service rules ( HOS regulations ) as found in 49 CFR § 395.3.
So what exactly is a 34 hour reset?
This refers to a period of at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty that drivers can take after reaching their maximum weekly driving limit. During this reset period, drivers are not allowed to perform any work-related activities or drive commercial motor vehicles.
Under the FMCSA 60 70 hour rule, (which is also known as the DOT 60 hour rule, the 70 hour rule or the 70 hour 8 day rule ) a commercial motor vehicle driver may not drive more than 60 hours on-duty over seven consecutive days or 70 hours over eight consecutive days.
The limit depends on whether or not your company operates trucks 6 days a week or 7 days a week and the FMCSA says in § 395.8: “The term “7 or 8 consecutive days” means the 7 or 8 consecutive 24-hour periods as designated by the carrier for the driver’s home terminal”.
Once this “weeekly driving limit” is reached, drivers may take at least 34 consecutive hours off duty to fully “reset” their weekly HOS clock.
Why taking a DOT hours reset can be beneficial:
1. Avoiding Burnout
Truck driving is demanding both physically and mentally. Long hours behind the wheel can lead to exhaustion, burnout, and even health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease. Taking regular breaks from driving helps reduce fatigue levels and improves overall well-being.
2. Maximizing Productivity
The 34 hour reset allows you to maximize productivity by starting fresh with a new week once the break period ends. This means you’ll have more available driving hours during the next work week without violating HOS regulations.
3. Safety First
Fatigue-related accidents are preventable but remain one of the leading causes of crashes involving large trucks on highways today. By taking regular breaks like the 34 hour reset, drivers reduce their risk of being involved in an accident due to drowsiness or falling asleep at the wheel.
4. Increased Efficiency
Resetting your 60 or 70 hour maximum driving time clock so that you’re not wasting possibly productive driving hours each day while complying with the DOT’s 70 hour 8 day rule.
Understanding the FMCSA 34 Hour Reset Regulations
The FMCSA hours of service rules are strictly enforced to ensure drivers get enough rest between shifts and avoid fatigue-related accidents and the 34 hour reset provision is an important part of these HOS rules for commercial motor vehicle drivers.
During this reset period, you can’t perform any work or drive your truck, and the entire period must be spent in a sleeper berth or other location where you can get adequate rest.
Is 34 hour reset mandatory?
No, the 34 hour reset rule is not mandatory for commercial truck drivers. It is an option that drivers can choose to use in order to reset their weekly driving limit under the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations.
If you choose not to complete a reset, you’ll just keep running up against your 60 70 hour rule weekly HOS limit.
For instance, let’s say that you just finished your driving day on a Sunday and you hit your 70 hour clock limit (because your company operates 7 days a week and you’ve driven 70 hours over the last 8 days).
How many hours can you drive when you start driving on Monday?
The 8 day period is a rolling count of your total driving hours.
Due to the 70 hour 8 day rule, you can only drive 8 hours at most on Monday, since you only “lose” the 8 hours that you drove the previous Sunday.
If you choose to take the 34 hour reset when you hit that 70 hour mark at the end of Sunday, you’re 70 hour clock will be totally reset and you’ll be able to drive your full 11 hours beginning on Tuesday.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Taking a 34 Hour Reset
While using the 34 hour restart provision may seem like a straightforward process, there are some common mistakes that drivers should avoid to ensure they get the most out of their downtime.
Here are some tips on what not to do when taking a DOT hours of service reset:
1. Don’t underestimate your need for rest One of the biggest mistakes drivers make when taking a 34 hour reset is underestimating how much rest they really need.
It’s important to remember that this time off is not just about meeting regulatory requirements but also about recharging your batteries and reducing fatigue.
2. Don’t skip meals or neglect hydration During your DOT hours of service reset period, it’s essential to maintain good nutrition and hydration habits.
Skipping meals or neglecting hydration can lead to decreased energy levels and increased feelings of exhaustion.
3. Don’t ignore physical activity Although you don’t have to be active during your downtime, it’s still important to move around and stretch periodically throughout the day.
Sitting in one place for an extended period can cause muscle stiffness and soreness.
4. Don’t let cabin fever set in Being cooped up in your truck over an extended period can leave you feeling stir-crazy and restless.
Fight cabin fever by getting outside for fresh air whenever possible, exploring local attractions or parks nearby, or engaging in low-impact activities such as yoga or meditation.
5. Don’t violate HOS rules Finally, it’s crucial not to violate Hours of Service regulations during your reset period.
This means avoiding any work-related activities such as loading/unloading cargo, conducting maintenance checks on vehicles/equipment, etc., that could count against your daily driving limit.
Taking a proper break during a DOT hours of service reset is critical in maintaining safety on the roadways while avoiding burnout from long hours behind the wheel every week.
By being mindful of these common pitfalls when taking this type of break will help maximize its effectiveness so that you can return refreshed.
Benefits of Maximizing Your Driving Hours with a 34 Hour Reset
Truck drivers can complete a 34 hour restart after working for 60 hours in seven days or 70 hours in eight days to effectively “reset” your weekly HOS limit.
If you hit your weekly driving hours limit, you’ll be limited to driving for fewer hours each day than the typical 11 driving hours.
By resetting your weekly hours clock with a 34 hour restart, you’ll again have a fresh weekly clock to start with.
How to Make the Most of Your Time Off During a 34 Hour Reset
As a truck driver, you know that time off is precious. That’s why it’s essential to make the most of your 34-hour reset.
Here are some tips on how to optimize your time off:
1. Plan ahead: Before starting your reset, plan what you want to do with your free time. This will help you maximize your time and ensure that you don’t waste any of it.
2. Rest: One of the most important things you can do during your DOT reset hours is rest. Sleep in if you need to catch up on sleep or take naps throughout the day if needed.
3. Exercise: Exercise helps improve physical and mental health by boosting energy levels and reducing stress levels. Take advantage of the facilities provided by truck stops or find local gyms near where you’re parked.
4. Explore: If there are nearby attractions like hiking trails, museums, or parks, use this opportunity to explore new places and enjoy nature.
5. Connect with loved ones: Use this time off as an opportunity to connect with family members and friends through phone calls or video chats.
6. Meal prep: Preparing meals in advance for days when driving can save both money and time on eating out while also ensuring healthy eating habits are maintained.
7. Complete personal tasks: Use this downtime for completing personal tasks such as laundry, showering, cleaning living space etc.
Making the most out of your DOT hours of service reset requires proper planning and prioritizing activities according to individual needs like resting well, exercising regularly while exploring new places too!
34 hour Reset Frequently Asked Questions
How often do you have to do a 34 hour reset?
You can do a DOT hours reset as often as you would like, but that wouldn’t be too productive. Generally, you would only need to do a full 34 hour reset if you’re bumping up against your 60 or 70 hour weekly driving limits under the FMCSA’s 60 hour 7 day rule or the 70 hour 8 day rule.
Is it a 34 or 36 hour reset?
Just 34 consecutive hours off duty. I’m not sure where the 36 hour reset myth came from…maybe because 34 hours seems so made up or arbitrary?
Apparently there is a bit of “good” science that supports the minimum of 34 straight hours needed to be fully rested.
If you need a 36 hour reset instead of just 34 hours, grab the extra two hours of rack time. You deserve it! Plus, significant driving breaks are the whole reason for these HOS regulations in the first place.
Can you use personal conveyance during a 34 hour reset?
You’re probably familiar with the concept of personal conveyance. It’s defined as the movement of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal use while off-duty. This means that you can use your truck to travel from one location to another for non-work purposes, such as getting food or lodging.
However, there are certain rules and limitations when it comes to using personal conveyance during a 34 hour reset. Let’s take a closer look at what they are.
During your DOT hours reset, you are not allowed to drive their CMV except in limited circumstances. One of those circumstances is using personal conveyance. However, there are some restrictions that apply:
1. The movement must be for personal reasons: You cannot use personal conveyance during the 34 hour reset if you’re doing any kind of work-related activity, such as picking up cargo or moving your truck from one lot to another.
2. The distance must be reasonable: While there is no specific distance limit for using personal conveyance during the reset period, it should be within reason and consistent with normal commuting distances.
3. The time spent driving should not exceed what is reasonably necessary: Using personal conveyance during the 34 hour reset shouldn’t be used as an excuse to extend your rest period beyond what is necessary under the regulations.
4. You must annotate your logs accordingly: If you use personal conveyance during your 34 hour reset, you need to annotate your logs accordingly so that law enforcement officials can determine whether you were in compliance with the HOS rules. Also be sure to keep all of your HOS supporting documents in good order as well.
So, yes – you can use personal conveyance during your 34 hour breaks provided that it meets certain conditions and limitations outlined above.
Does personal Conveyance count against your 34 hour reset?
One common question that many drivers have is whether these PC hours count against their 34 hour reset. The answer to this question is no; Personal Conveyance does not count against your DOT hours reset.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has clarified that PC time is not considered as on-duty time or driving time and therefore cannot be counted towards the 70-hour work week limit or the 34 hour restart period. (Same applies for using the adverse driving conditions exception as well).
The FMCSA defines personal conveyance as “the movement of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal use while off duty.” This means that any driving done during this time should be purely for personal reasons and not related to your job duties.
So, any time spent in Personal Conveyance duty status couldn’t count against your 60 70 hour clock.
How do you log the 34 hour reset?
Logging a 34 hour restart is simple, especially with electronic logging devices (ELD).
To properly log the 34-hour reset, follow these steps:
1. Begin by entering your off-duty status in your ELD or paper logbook at the start of your break.
2. Ensure that you remain off-duty for a full 34 consecutive hours before returning to work.
3. Once your rest period is complete, update your ELD or paper logbook to reflect that you are back on duty and ready to begin a new work week with your maximum weekly driving limit fully restored.
Can Short Haul Drivers Use the 34 Hour Reset Provision?
Absolutely! Truck drivers (like intermodal container haulers and some less than truckload carriers (LTL carriers) who regularly use the HOS Short haul exemption ( 150 air mile exemption ) are subject to the same 60 70 hour rule that their long haul brothers and sisters face.
So, once you run up against the maximum driving hours for the last 7 or 8 day period, you might also need to take the opportunity to fully reset your weekly limit clock.
Per the FMCSA, “The term “7 or 8 consecutive days” means the 7 or 8 consecutive 24-hour periods as designated by the carrier for the driver’s home terminal”.
Are there any limits on what time you have to take a 34 hour restart?
Nope. Back in 2013, the FMCSA made the DOT hours of service reset mandatory and implemented a set schedule requirement for how drivers had to take their restart period. Basically, the regulations said that drivers are required to take at least two nights of rest, with at least one uninterrupted night of sleep between the hours of 1:00 am and 5:00 am.
This grand idea to improve fleet safety went over like a ton of bricks, as you could imagine.
So, that stupid reset provision was removed within a couple of years. Hopefully, never to return…
Wrapping Up
The 34 hour restart rule is a regulation implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the United States that allows commercial motor vehicle drivers to reset their weekly driving limit by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.
Under the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, commercial truck drivers are limited to a certain number of driving hours per day and per week to ensure they get adequate rest and reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents.
The 34 hour reset provision allows drivers to reset their weekly driving limit by taking a continuous 34 hour break, during which time they must be off-duty, in the sleeper berth, or both.
It’s important to note that while taking a 34 hour restart may allow you to restart your work week with fresh weekly hours-of-service limits, it does not necessarily mean you will be fully rested and alert for driving duties.
You should prioritize getting adequate sleep and taking necessary breaks during your shifts to ensure that you are operating as safely on the road as possible.
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