Hours of Service Regulations for Truck Drivers In Georgia

Large commercial trucks are a central component in the nation’s supply, chain, bringing goods and services into and outside Georgia. As important as large commercial trucks are to the Georgia economy and the daily lives of Georgia residents, they also place motorists in smaller vehicles at significant risk of injuries in an accident. Commercial trucks outweigh passenger vehicles by as much as 76,000 pounds.

It takes multiple entities to ensure a truck and cargo are safe on the roadway and not at risk of harming others in an accident. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) puts safety regulations in place for nearly all aspects of trucking, including placing limits on driving hours to minimize fatigue.

FMCSA Regulations for Driving Hours In Commercial Trucking

Driving hour limits help to ensure that truck drivers are as alert and vigilant as possible while behind the wheel. Trucking companies in Georgia may not set unrealistic delivery goals or compel drivers to exceed federal driving limits. Exceeding driving hours can have several dangerous consequences including accidents involving serious injuries, according to specialized injury attorneys in Atlanta. All drivers must keep meticulous logs of their driving hours, breaks, and off-duty hours.

• The 11-hour rule: truck drivers may drive for up to 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. 
• 14-hour rule: a trucking company cannot permit or compel a truck driver to drive after the 14th on-duty hour following 10 consecutive off-duty hours.
• 16-hour rule: a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver may exceed the standard 14-hour limit by two more driving hours once every seven days under specific circumstances, including if they were released from duty at their normal work location for the previous five driving sessions, were released from their driving duty at their work location within 16 hours after starting duty after 10 consecutive off-duty hours and haven’t used this exception within the previous six consecutive days except after a 34-hour restart of the 7-8 day period. They may also extend their driving hours by two hours under adverse driving conditions such as slippery roads or poor visibility that requires slower driving
•  60 and 70-hour rules: trucking companies cannot compel or allow a driver to drive after a total of 60 on-duty hours within seven consecutive days or after 70 hours on the job in eight consecutive days with an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours, restarting their 7-8 day period.

Driving Breaks for Georgia Truck Drivers

Truck drivers in Georgia must take 30-minute breaks after every cumulative eight hours of driving without interruption.

There are also special provisions included in the FMCSA regulations allowing drivers who transport freight to split their required ten off-duty hours if they spend at least seven consecutive hours in the sleeper berth.

What Are the Exceptions for Short-Haul Truck Drivers In Georgia?

Some Georgia truck drivers fall under the exceptions for hours of service regulations if their driving duties remain within a 150-mile radius of their work location or don’t exceed a maximum of 14 on-duty hours.

What If a Driver Exceeds The Hours of Service Regulations for Truck Drivers In Georgia?

Truck drivers must keep scrupulously honest and accurate logging hours proving that they are operating within the industry regulations. Truck accident lawyers in Atlanta explain that after an accident, a driver or trucking company may be held liable for an injury victim’s damages if they exceeded their regulated driving hours or failed to take their mandatory 30-minute breaks and off-duty hours.