What hours can propane bobtail drivers work?
What hours can propane bobtail drivers work?
Under the general federal freight rules, a covered driver can drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 straight hours off. Multi-day limits also apply. Have dispatch check the driver’s actual clocks and any valid exception before adding a stop. A short route alone does not remove those limits.
Under the general federal freight rules, a covered driver can drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 straight hours off. Multi-day limits also apply. Have dispatch check the driver’s actual clocks and any valid exception before adding a stop. A short route alone does not remove those limits.
- Under the general federal freight rules, a covered driver can drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 straight hours off.
- Keep the delivery decision, the field-work record and the applicable safety or carrier requirements in view.
What is the difference between driving time and the duty window?
Driving time counts time at the wheel. The duty window is elapsed time from the start of duty within which driving is allowed. 49 CFR 395.3 sets separate limits for each. Using fewer driving hours does not extend the window.
The general rule bars driving after the 14th straight hour after the driver comes on duty, following 10 straight hours off. The window starts at that on-duty time. It does not say all work must stop then. Plan the return drive before assigning another stop.
What other limits belong on the board?
Under the general rule, driving stops after 60 on-duty hours in seven days if the carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week. For carriers that do, the limit is 70 in eight days. A restart takes at least 34 straight hours off.
Section 395.3 also sets a 30-minute break from driving after eight driving hours. Qualifying non-driving time can count. The cited short-haul exceptions change this break duty. Check the rule for the driver before applying it.
Which clock is the dispatcher checking?
| Clock | General federal property-carrying rule |
|---|---|
| Rest before driving | 10 consecutive hours off duty. |
| Driving and elapsed window | 11 driving hours within 14 consecutive hours. |
| Cumulative duty | 60 hours in 7 days or 70 in 8, depending on carrier operations. |
Does short-haul mean no hours rules?
No. 49 CFR 395.1(e)(1) has a short-haul records exception with specific terms. It does not remove every driving limit. Check the actual route, return time, rest and carrier records.
State rules for intrastate work and other exceptions need their own review. Do not assume cold weather creates relief. Have the fleet lead check the work, place and dates covered by any relief before dispatch relies on it.
How should the office check a day’s capacity?
Use the carrier’s real duty records. We suggest this daily review:
1. Confirm the rules and exceptions for the driver.
2. Check the rest period and duty start.
3. Review driving time and total duty time.
4. Include loading, stops, breaks and the drive back.
5. Recheck before adding work during the day.
A blank space on the job calendar does not prove legal capacity. Staff need the duty records and the fleet lead’s process to decide whether a new stop fits.
What sources support this answer?
- eCFR: 49 CFR 395.3 — Property-carrying driving, interruption, cumulative-duty and restart provisions.
- eCFR: 49 CFR 395.1 — Scope and exceptions; short-haul conditions in (e)(1).
What is the next step?
Next, have dispatch check the driver’s duty records before it adds another stop.
Related reading: Read the ELD decision separately from field app dispatch. Browse all operator answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 14-hour window all driving time?
No. The general federal rule allows up to 11 driving hours within the 14-hour window after the required rest. Other work uses part of that window. Check both clocks and the return drive before dispatch adds a stop to the driver’s day.
Can the driver keep doing paperwork after the window?
The 14-hour provision limits driving. It does not ban every kind of work after that point. Extra work still affects total duty hours and the next shift. Have the fleet lead review the whole day before treating paperwork time as room for more work.
Does a short-haul driver still have driving limits?
Yes. The short-haul records exception does not remove all freight-driver limits. Check section 395.1(e)(1) against the actual work. Keep the required carrier time records. A local delivery label alone does not prove that the driver meets every term of the exception.
Does a busy winter automatically waive the rules?
Do not assume it does. Have the fleet lead check the actual rule and any relief in force for the work, dates and place. A cold forecast or delivery backlog is not proof of relief. Keep that review separate from the customer’s urgent request.
Does TankSpotter’s job calendar prove HOS compliance?
No. A job calendar is not the driver’s full duty record. Use the carrier’s records to check the assignment. TankSpotter’s field-work tools can be reviewed on their own terms. Do not assume a planned stop proves legal hours or an ELD record.
Reviewed: 2026-10-17. By the TankSpotter team. Office guidance, not legal advice or field training. Check the rules for your work with your regulator and qualified trainer.