Hours-of-Service Violations and New York Truck Accidents

Truck drivers spend long hours on the road transporting goods across New York and between states. Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long many commercial truck drivers can stay behind the wheel before they must take time off. These rules exist to reduce driver fatigue and help keep large commercial vehicles off the road when their drivers are too tired to operate them safely.

When a truck driver or trucking company ignores those limits, fatigue can increase the risk of a serious crash. For someone injured in a truck accident, evidence of an hours-of-service violation may also raise important questions about how the crash happened and whether the driver or trucking company failed to follow required safety rules.

What Are Hours-of-Service Rules?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes hours-of-service rules for many commercial motor vehicle drivers. These rules limit both driving time and the amount of time a driver can remain on duty.

For property-carrying drivers who fall under the standard federal rules, the limits generally include:

• 11 hours of driving: A driver can drive up to 11 hours after taking at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-hour window: A driver cannot continue driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, even if the driver has not used all 11 hours of permitted driving time.
• 30-minute break: A driver generally must take a 30-minute interruption from driving after accumulating eight hours of driving.
• 60/70-hour limits: A driver cannot drive after reaching 60 hours on duty in seven consecutive days or 70 hours in eight consecutive days, depending on the carrier’s operating schedule.

These rules contain exceptions and special provisions, including rules for short-haul operations, adverse driving conditions, and sleeper berths.

New York truck drivers may operate under federal or state requirements depending on the type of commercial operation. New York also distinguishes between interstate and intrastate commercial driving, so the rules that apply to a particular driver can depend on the nature of the trip and the driver’s operation.

How Can Hours-of-Service Violations Cause Truck Accidents?

Fatigue can affect a driver’s ability to respond to changing traffic conditions. A tired driver may have slower reaction times, difficulty maintaining attention, or trouble recognizing hazards.

A driver who has exceeded the permitted driving or on-duty limits may also continue operating a truck when the driver should have stopped to rest. That can create dangerous conditions on busy roads, especially when a large commercial vehicle travels at highway speeds.

New York has recognized the risks associated with drowsy commercial driving. According to New York DMV, drowsy or fatigued commercial drivers caused 742 crashes in the state between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024. Those crashes resulted in 526 injuries and five fatalities.

An hours-of-service violation does not automatically prove that fatigue caused a particular crash. Investigators still need to examine the circumstances and determine whether the driver’s condition, conduct, or other factors contributed to the collision.

How Do Hours-of-Service Violations Happen?

A driver may violate hours-of-service rules by driving longer than permitted or failing to take required rest periods. In some cases, scheduling practices can also contribute to violations.

A trucking company may create pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines, for example, while a driver tries to complete a route without taking the required time off. Other violations may involve inaccurate records or attempts to hide how long a driver actually spent on duty.

These issues can become especially important after a serious collision because investigators may need to determine how long the driver had been working and when the driver last took a required rest period.

What Evidence Can Reveal an Hours-of-Service Violation?

Truck accident investigations often involve more records than a typical car accident investigation. Federal rules require many commercial drivers to maintain records of duty status, and electronic logging devices can record information about a driver’s hours and activities.

After a crash, investigators may examine records that help establish the driver’s schedule and movements. These can include:

• Electronic logging device records
• Driver logs and records of duty status
• Dispatch records
• Delivery schedules
• GPS or vehicle-tracking information
• Fuel and toll records
• Bills of lading and shipping documents
• Communication between the driver and trucking company

These records can help establish when the driver started working, how long the driver drove, when the driver stopped, and whether the driver exceeded applicable limits. The records may also reveal inconsistencies. For example, a driver’s official log might show that the driver took required rest while GPS, fuel, or delivery records tell a different story.

Can a Trucking Company Be Responsible for an Hours-of-Service Violation?

Potentially. Liability depends on the facts of the case, including who made the decisions that led to the violation and whether those actions contributed to the crash. Federal regulations prohibit a motor carrier from permitting or requiring a driver to operate beyond applicable hours-of-service limits.

That means investigators may need to look beyond the driver. If a trucking company pressured a driver to meet an unreasonable schedule, encouraged the driver to exceed legal limits, or failed to properly monitor compliance, those facts could become relevant to an injured person’s claim.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

If a truck accident leaves you injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some truck accident injuries may not become obvious immediately, and medical records can also document the connection between the crash and your injuries.

Report the collision and preserve any information you have about what happened. If you can safely do so, photograph the vehicles, roadway, visible injuries, and surrounding conditions. Keep copies of medical bills, treatment records, and other expenses related to the crash.

You should also speak with an attorney before assuming that the driver’s insurance company has all the information needed to evaluate your claim. Trucking companies and their insurers may have access to electronic records, driver logs, vehicle data, and other evidence that could become important during an investigation.

Alonso Krangle Fight for Victims After a Truck Accident

An hours-of-service violation can provide important evidence in a truck accident investigation, particularly when fatigue may have contributed to the crash. Alonso Krangle helps injury victims throughout Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and New York pursue compensation after serious truck accidents and works to hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable. If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident, call us at 800-403-6191 or contact us online for a free consultation and a confidential conversation about your rights.