What Are Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers in Florida?

James D. Payer | December 18, 2024 | Truck Accidents

Truck drivers in Florida carry great responsibility toward other drivers on the road. Due to the sheer size of tractor-trailers and semi-trucks that haul loads across Florida’s roadways, small mistakes can have significant consequences. Truck accidents can cause serious injuries to any other driver in harm’s way. Due to these risks, commercial truck drivers must follow strict rules governing hours of service for truckers. 

Florida law requires truck drivers operating in Florida to follow limits on consecutive hours and days of driving. If a driver fails to follow hours of service limits–or their employer pushes them to disregard limits–they can be responsible for damages caused in a truck accident. If you or a loved one were injured in a Florida truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation in a personal injury claim. 

What Are Florida’s Time Limits for Commercial Truck Drivers? 

Section 316.302 of the Florida Statutes sets the guidelines for how long truck drivers can be on the road in Florida. These limits include: 

• No more than 12 hours of driving after ten consecutive rest hours.  
• A driver may not drive after the 16th hour following coming on duty after ten straight hours off duty. 
• Not driving over 70-80 hours on duty within 7-8 consecutive days of driving (a minimum of 34 hours off are required to end the 7-8 day driving period). 

Commercial truck operators must also keep accurate logbooks of their driving hours. Exceptions would include if the truck driver operates the vehicle only within a 150-mile radius of their home, and they do not carry any hazardous materials. A truck’s logbook can prove critical in the event of a truck accident. 

The logs can show whether a driver exceeded Florida’s hours of service limits when the crash happened. In turn, this can help prove a truck driver was fatigued at the time of the accident. Any intentional errors or manipulation of log entries can also show negligent conduct by the driver or their employer. 

Are Florida’s Hours of Service Rules the Same as Federal Rules? 

Commercial truck drivers that operate in interstate commerce must follow stricter federal hours of service rules than those in Florida. A trucking company operates in interstate commerce when it must cross state lines to conduct business. Federal rules include the following requirements for commercial truck drivers: 

• Drivers cannot drive more than 11 hours after ten straight hours of rest.
• Drivers cannot drive after the 14th hour following coming on duty. 
• Drivers must rest at least 30 minutes after 8 hours of drive time. 
• No driving more than 60-70 hours on duty within 7-8 consecutive driving days. 
• Drivers must get at least 8 hours of sleep plus two non-driving hours before driving again. 

Both Florida and Federal laws set strict safety protocols to make sure truckers drive safely on Florida’s roads and interstate highways. 

Dangers of Fatigued Driving 

Studies show that fatigue can affect drivers in dangerous ways, similar to alcohol and drugs. The NHTSA reports over 50,000 accidents caused by drowsy driving each year and about 800 annual deaths due to fatigued driving. When a driver is overtired and fatigued, their reaction times slow, and they are more likely to make poor decisions on the road. These mistakes can have serious and even deadly consequences when a fatigued driver is driving a big rig on a major highway. Florida hours of service rules exist to help protect the public–and truck drivers themselves–from the dangerous effects of fatigued driving. 

Contact Our Orlando Truck Accident Law Firm For Help Today

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Orlando, Florida, and need legal help, contact our experienced truck accident lawyers at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.

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