Bus Driver Hours of Service: 6 Rules for Passenger Carriers (2026)
Most hours of service guides are written for truck drivers. If you drive a motorcoach, charter bus or shuttle that carries passengers, many of the numbers are different. Getting them mixed up is easy, and it can lead to violations either way. Here are the six rules passenger carrying drivers need to know, based on 49 CFR 395.5 and related sections.
Passenger vs Property Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Passenger carrying | Property carrying |
|---|---|---|
| Off duty before driving | 8 consecutive hours | 10 consecutive hours |
| Driving limit | 10 hours | 11 hours |
| Daily limit | No driving after 15 hours on duty | No driving after the 14th hour since coming on duty |
| Weekly limit | 60 in 7 days or 70 in 8 days | 60 in 7 days or 70 in 8 days |
| 34 hour restart | Not available | Available |
| 30 minute break | Not required | After 8 hours of driving |
| Short haul duty period | 12 hours within 150 air miles | 14 hours within 150 air miles |
1. 10 Hours of Driving After 8 Hours Off
You may drive up to 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty. Once you have driven 10 hours, you need another 8 hours off before you drive again.
2. The 15 Hour On Duty Limit
This is the biggest difference from trucking. For property drivers, the 14 hour window keeps running whatever they do. For passenger drivers, the limit is 15 hours of on duty time. Off duty time during the day, such as waiting for a tour group while you are relieved of all duties, does not count toward the 15. That makes it possible to cover a long day trip if there is real off duty time in the middle.
Off duty has to mean off duty. If you are expected to stay with the coach, watch luggage or be ready to move at a moment's notice, that is on duty time.
3. 60 or 70 Hours a Week, With No Restart
The weekly limit is 60 on duty hours in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days if your carrier runs vehicles every day of the week. There is no 34 hour restart for passenger carriers. Hours come back as the oldest day rolls off your 7 or 8 day period. Our guide to the 34 hour restart explains the property carrier version if you drive both kinds of vehicle.
4. Sleeper Berth Splits
Coaches with a sleeper berth can split the 8 hour off duty requirement into two sleeper periods that add up to 8 hours, with neither period under 2 hours. That differs from the 7 and 3 or 8 and 2 splits property drivers use, which our sleeper berth rules guide explains.
5. Short Haul and Adverse Conditions
Passenger drivers who stay within 150 air miles of their work reporting location and are released within 12 hours can use the short haul exception in 395.1(e)(1) and keep time records instead of a full log. That is 2 hours shorter than the 14 hours property drivers get. The adverse driving conditions exception also applies, letting you drive up to 2 extra hours when unexpected weather or traffic hits.
6. ELDs Apply to Bus Drivers Too
The ELD rule covers passenger carriers the same way it covers trucks. Unless an exemption applies, such as short haul, a pre 2000 engine or a driveaway towaway move, a motorcoach driver needs a registered ELD. Make sure your device is set to the passenger ruleset. An ELD left on the property ruleset will count the wrong limits, show a 14 hour window instead of a 15 hour on duty limit, and may suggest a restart you cannot use.
If you are shopping for an ELD that handles passenger rules well, our best ELD devices roundup and FMCSA registered list guide are good places to start.
A Sample Charter Day
| Time | Activity | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. | Pre trip inspection | On duty |
| 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | Drive to destination | Driving (4 hours) |
| 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Released while the group tours, resting at a hotel | Off duty |
| 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Drive home | Driving (4 hours) |
| 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Post trip and paperwork | On duty |
That is 8 hours of driving and 9 hours on duty, well inside both the 10 and 15 hour limits, even though the day lasted 15 hours from start to finish. A truck driver with the same day would have run out of window at 8:00 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can a bus driver drive?
Up to 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty, and not after 15 hours on duty.
Can passenger carrier drivers use the 34 hour restart?
No. The 34 hour restart is only in the property carrying rules.
Do bus drivers need a 30 minute break?
No. The 30 minute break rule applies to property carrying drivers only.
Sources
All prices, terms and registration details were checked October 2026 on the pages below. Providers change pricing often, so confirm before you buy.