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FMCSA Cracks Down on Hours-of-Service Violations After 14% Spike in Fatigue Crashes
Regulation

FMCSA Cracks Down on Hours-of-Service Violations After 14% Spike in Fatigue Crashes

7 min readWashington, D.C.May 31, 2026

Federal regulators have launched the most aggressive enforcement campaign in a decade targeting truck drivers and carriers who violate hours-of-service rules. New data shows fatigue-related crashes killed 1,247 people in 2025 — a 14% increase from the prior year.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced in May 2026 the most aggressive hours-of-service enforcement initiative in more than a decade, following data showing a 14% year-over-year increase in fatigue-related large truck fatalities.

What the Rules Require

Federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations limit how long commercial truck drivers can operate without rest:

  • 11-hour driving limit: Drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
  • 14-hour on-duty limit: Drivers may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
  • 30-minute break requirement: Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving.
  • 60/70-hour limit: Drivers may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days.

    • How Carriers Are Cheating the System

    Despite mandatory Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) — which have been required since 2019 — FMCSA investigators found widespread manipulation in the 2025 enforcement sweep:

    Unassigned driving time: Carriers were found assigning driving time to "unidentified driver" accounts to hide individual driver violations.

    Personal conveyance abuse: The personal conveyance exemption — which allows drivers to use their truck for personal travel without it counting against HOS — was being used to move freight.

    Multiple ELD accounts: Some drivers were found operating with duplicate ELD profiles across different carrier systems.

    The Enforcement Response

    FMCSA's 2026 initiative includes:

  • Targeted audits of carriers with prior HOS violations
  • Increased roadside inspections at high-volume weigh stations on I-10, I-75, and I-95
  • Civil penalties up to $16,000 per violation
  • Out-of-service orders for carriers with systemic violations

    • What This Means for Crash Victims

    If you were injured in a crash caused by a fatigued truck driver, HOS violation records are among the most powerful evidence available. ELD data, driver logs, and carrier dispatch records can prove the driver was operating illegally at the time of the crash — and that the carrier knew or should have known.

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