How long does a truck driver have to sleep?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

A truck driver usually has to sleep at least seven hours. The FMCSA requires drivers to spend at least seven consecutive hours sleeping. This counts toward their mandatory ten hours of rest each day, but the other time can be spent doing other activities - it just has to be at least two consecutive hours long and not involve driving.

Other truck driver rest requirements can include a mandatory 30-minute break for every eight hours of driving, a 34-hour rest period after driving 60-70 hours across seven to eight consecutive days, and not driving more than 14 hours after starting their shift.

These mandatory breaks may change some depending on the driver's situation, but every driver has some form of them. These rules are put in place to protect the driver, their load, and other drivers, but they also make the need to find convenient places to rest even more necessary and make the lack of space even more frustrating.