Driving hours

(Effective since January 1, 2007)

Unexpected Stops and Detours: What You Need to Know About Hours of Service and Driving in Canada

For your safety… and the safety of other road users, bus driver hours of service are strictly regulated by federal and provincial laws. These laws limit the number of hours a driver can operate a vehicle in a day, the length of a work shift, and the total hours a driver can accumulate over multiple days.

The rules in Canada are:

• A driver may drive up to 13 hours within a 24-hour period.
• A driver may not exceed 14 hours of service within a 24-hour period.
• A driver must have a minimum of 10 hours of rest within a 24-hour period.
• A driver may not drive if 16 hours have passed since the start of their shift (regardless of driving or non-driving hours).
  Example: If a driver starts their shift at 6:00 AM, they cannot drive after 10:00 PM and must take 8 to 10 consecutive hours of rest before driving again, depending on the previous period.
• A driver may not start a shift without having had at least 8 consecutive hours of rest.
• A driver may work up to 70 hours over a 7-day period (including both driving and non-driving hours). Additionally, the driver must have at least one 24-hour off period within the previous 14 days.

If these limits are exceeded…

• Both the driver and the company can face fines, putting the company’s privileges (license) and your wallet at risk.
• The driver may be taken out of service immediately during a roadside inspection for 24 hours.

How can this be determined?

• The driver’s logbook can be examined upon request by a government inspector or the police.
• Office audits at the company can detect violations of hours of service.

Remember: the lives of your passengers are in the driver’s hands.

Unexpected Stops and Detours: What You Need to Know About Hours of Service and Driving in the United States

Bus drivers work hard to meet customer demands. However, in the case of unexpected stops or detours, they simply cannot comply. Like airline pilots, the number of hours a driver can operate is strictly regulated by U.S. federal law.

The facts are:

• A driver may drive a maximum of 10 hours, followed by a rest period of at least 8 hours before driving again.
• A driver may be on duty up to 15 hours, which includes both driving and non-driving activities. Once the 15-hour limit is reached, they must take an 8-hour off-duty period.
• A driver may work up to 70 hours over an 8-day period, including driving and non-driving duties. A driver may not drive after reaching this limit.

Consequences of exceeding these limits include:

• The driver may be placed “out of service” immediately during a local or federal roadside inspection of their logbook, which can severely delay the group while another driver is located and transported to the site.
• The safety of the group may be compromised due to driver fatigue.
• Fines for both the driver and the company, including criminal penalties, can threaten their existence.

Remember: the lives of your passengers are in the driver’s hands.