What Is Hours of Service? Canadian HOS Rules Explained

Hours of service rules set the most time a commercial driver can drive and be on duty, and the least time they must spend off duty. Tired drivers react more slowly and make more mistakes, and fatigue is a serious risk in truck and bus crashes. HOS rules are there to make sure drivers get enough rest.

There are two layers of rules in Canada:

• Federally regulated carriers, whose vehicles cross provincial or international borders, follow the federal Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations.
• Drivers who stay within one province follow that province’s rules, which are based on National Safety Code Standard 9. Many provinces use the same or similar limits, but there are differences, so always check the rules where you drive.

Both the driver and the motor carrier are responsible. The carrier must not ask a driver to break the rules, and the driver must not drive when the rules say stop, or when they are too tired to drive safely.

Every hour of a driver’s day is recorded in one of four duty statuses:

Getting the duty status right matters. Logging work time as off-duty to stretch your hours is a violation, and inspectors look for it.

Under the federal rules for driving south of latitude 60°N, the main daily limits are:

There are also work shift limits. Once you have had 13 hours of driving, 14 hours on duty, or 16 hours have passed since your last long off-duty period, you must stop driving until you take enough off-duty time.

The rules also allow some flexibility, such as deferring part of your daily off-duty time to the next day, and splitting off-duty time in a sleeper berth, for both single and team drivers. These options come with strict conditions, and the course explains them step by step.

On top of the daily limits, drivers follow a longer cycle. The carrier chooses one cycle for each driver:

• Cycle 1: no more than 70 hours on duty in any 7 days.
• Cycle 2: no more than 120 hours on duty in any 14 days, and you must take at least 24 hours off in a row before you reach 70 hours on duty.

You can reset your cycle by taking a long off-duty break: at least 36 hours in a row for Cycle 1, or at least 72 hours in a row for Cycle 2. There are rules for switching from one cycle to the other, too. Drivers must also take at least 24 hours off in a row in every 14-day period.

Drivers must keep a record of duty status, often called a log, that shows their duty status through each day. It also includes details such as the date, driver, carrier, vehicle and cycle.

Federally regulated carriers must use a certified electronic logging device (ELD) for most drivers. The ELD connects to the engine and records driving time automatically. Some drivers and situations are exempt and may use paper logs or other records. If an ELD malfunctions, there are rules for switching to paper and getting it fixed.

At a roadside inspection, an inspector can ask to see your records. Breaking HOS rules can lead to penalties for the driver and carrier, and a driver can be placed out of service until they have taken the required rest.

Drivers need to know the limits to plan their day and keep accurate logs. Dispatchers and managers need to know them so they never plan a trip that forces a driver to break the rules. Safety and compliance staff need them to audit logs, coach drivers and prepare for inspections and audits. New drivers often learn the rules for the first time on the job, so a clear course before the first trip saves mistakes on the road.

The Gama Safety Hours of Service course takes about 1.5 hours and has 13 modules: introduction to HOS; legislation; duty status; daily limits and mandatory off-duty time; off-duty special circumstances; off-duty time in a sleeper berth; cycles; record of duty status; electronic logging devices; other records of duty status; inspections and non-compliance; emergency exemptions and extensions; and hours of service in other jurisdictions, such as north of 60 and other provinces.

Does HOS training expire? There is no single national expiry date. It depends on your province and employer. Many carriers ask for a refresher every 1 to 3 years, or when the rules change.

1. Enrol in the online Hours of Service course and start right away on your phone, tablet or computer.
2. Learn at your own pace. Your progress saves automatically.
3. Pass the final exam with 80% or better. Retakes are unlimited and free.
4. Download your certificate right away. A physical wallet card is mailed to you free.

The course is available in English, French, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin and more, and is recognized by employers across Canada. Training drivers? Volume pricing starts at 2 seats, with an admin dashboard to track progress.