What are the penalties for violating the hours-of-service (HOS) rules?
Drivers or carriers who violate the HOS rules face serious penalties: * Drivers may be placed out-of-service (shut down) at roadside until the driver has accumulated enough off-duty time to be back in compliance; * State and local enforcement officials may assess fines; * FMCSA may levy civil penalties on driver or carrier, ranging from $550 to $11,000 per violation depending on severity; * The carrier’s safety rating can be downgraded for a pattern of violations; and * Federal criminal penalties can be brought against carriers who knowingly and willfully allow or require HOS violations. However, FMCSA will only take enforcement measures for egregious violations during the first sixty days the rule is in effect.
