UNPLANNED STOPS

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT UNITED STATES HOURS OF SERVICE REGULATIONS
For Your Safety… and that of other road users, your motorcoach driver’s hours of service (time on duty) are strictly regulated by Federal and State laws. These laws limit the number of hours a driver can drive in a day, the length of the work shift and the number of work hours a driver can accumulate over 8 days.

Your motorcoach driver works hard to accommodate your requests, but in the case of making unplanned stops or detours, sometimes they are simply unable to oblige. Just like an airline pilot, the number of hours that any one motorcoach driver can be on duty are strictly limited by Federal law.*

WHAT ARE THE FACTS?
• Your driver can drive up to 10 hours, and then must have 8 hours off duty before driving again.
• Your driver may work for up to 15 hours, which includes both driving and non-driving duties. Once the 15 hour limit is reached the driver must have 8 hours off duty.
• Your driver may work for up to 70 hours in any 8-day period, which includes driving and non-driving duties. A driver may not drive after reaching this limit.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF EXCEEDING THESE LIMITS INCLUDE…
• Your driver being put “out of service” on the spot, during a surprise state or federal roadside inspection of your driver’s log book, severely delaying your group while another driver is located and transported to your motorcoach.
• The safety of your entire group being put at extreme risk, due to driver fatigue.
• Further penalties to your driver and bus company, including criminal penalties, that could threaten their livelihoods. 

HOW WILL ANYONE FIND OUT?
Your driver’s log book can be examined at any time during a trip by police or government enforcement officers. Audits of driver and company records at the bus company’s office will detect hours of service violation.

The Hours of Service rules of the country within whose borders you are currently operating are the rules that apply.

So, please don’t pressure your driver to break the law by exceeding these limits or by changing your itinerary! After all, the safety of your group is our number one Priority!

*U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Part 395