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Everything to Know About Canadian Hours of Service Rules

  • Jan 27, 2020
  • Madeline S.

The trucking industry is one of the most heavily regulated in the country. The Canadian government has developed rules and regulations to protect industry workers and keep our roads safe. Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are some of the most important ones and are designed to reduce the number and severity of trucking collisions by addressing driver fatigue. Every transportation company is required to comply with HOS regulations, which is why it is important to fully understand what is laid out in it.


Daily Requirements

In order to comply with Canadian Hours of Service regulations, truck drivers must:

• Have 10 hours off-duty in a day
• Cannot drive for more than 13 hours in a day
• Cannot drive after 14 hours on-duty in a day


Off-Duty Requirements

Depending on how long a driver has worked, they are required to take a certain amount of mandatory off-duty time:

• After a period of at least 8 hours off-duty, a driver cannot drive more than 13 hours
• After a period of at least 8 hours off-duty, a driver cannot drive after having been on-duty for 14 hours
• After a period of at least 8 hours off-duty, a driver cannot drive after 16 hours has elapsed


Cycle Requirements:

Truck drivers in Canada can follow a 7-day or 14-day cycle, which shall be designated by the operator for the driver to follow. Each cycle has its own requirements:

• For a 7-day cycle, a driver cannot drive after having been on-duty for 70 hours
• For a 14-day cycle, a driver cannot drive after having been on-duty for 120 hours. Drivers also cannot drive after accumulating 70 hours on duty without taking 24 consecutive hours off-duty
• All drivers must have a period of at least 24 consecutive hours off-duty in the preceding 14 days
• Drivers may only switch their cycle if they start a new cycle
• To start a new cycle, a 7-day cycle driver must take 36 consecutive hours off-duty
• To start a new cycle, a 14-day cycle driver must take 72 consecutive hours off-duty


Daily Log Requirements

In addition to complying with Canadian Hours of Service rules, drivers and trucking operators are also required to accurately log this information. A number of pieces of information are required for daily logs including the driver’s name, the date, start times, plate numbers and more.


Learn More

It is important for every trucking company and truck driver to understand and comply with all of Canada’s Hours of Service rules. AVAAL’s Hours of Service and Log Book training course covers all of these regulations, as well as covers the differences in regulations for drivers that operate in the U.S. Students also learn how to accurately fill out logbooks in order to meet compliance standards.


Enroll today for our upcoming session to get started!.