ELD Compliance Basics: What Every New Driver Should Know
Hours-of-service rules don't have to be confusing. A plain-English breakdown of the 11-hour rule, 14-hour clock, 30-minute break and split-sleeper.
August 21, 2025 · 5 min read · by the Klein dispatch team
New drivers ask about hours-of-service more than any other topic during orientation. The federal rules are not as complicated as the forum threads make them sound. Four things to remember:
11-hour driving limit. After 10 consecutive hours off duty, you can drive up to 11 hours. That is total drive time, not workday length.
14-hour window. The 11 hours of driving must fit inside a 14-hour on-duty window that starts when you first go on-duty. Once that clock starts, fueling, loading and waiting all count.
30-minute break. Required after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Off-duty, sleeper-berth, or on-duty-not-driving all qualify as of the 2020 rule update.
Split-sleeper. You can split your 10 hours off into a 7/3 or 8/2 combo using the sleeper berth, which buys you flexibility on longer runs.
Klein runs ELD-compliant fleets and our dispatchers plan loads against driver clocks — you should never be put in a position where you have to choose between getting home and breaking a rule.
Need help with a load? Call dispatch at +1 (678) 756-1908 or request a quote.