Hours-of-Service Rules for Mississippi Truck Drivers

Driver fatigue is a common factor in many truck wrecks. Both federal and state regulations limit the amount of time truckers can spend behind the wheel without resting for this reason. Unfortunately, many truckers and trucking companies fail to comply with Mississippi hours-of-service rules. These violations increase the likelihood of commercial truck accidents. When crashes occur, truck accident victims can seek compensation from the party responsible for their injuries.

What Are the FMCSA Hours-of-Service Regulations (HOS)?

Interstate truck drivers and trucking companies operating in Mississippi must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours-of-service regulations. The FMCSA hours-of-service rules mandate:

• Property-carrying drivers – The daily driving limit for truckers hauling goods is 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, even if they take breaks. The 14-hour limit starts when drivers begin their work duties, not when they get behind the wheel.
• Passenger-carrying drivers – Commercial truck drivers carrying passengers have a daily driving limit of 10 hours after eight consecutive hours off duty. They cannot drive after 15 straight hours on duty. As with property-carrying drivers, the 15-hour limit starts when the driver starts their job duties.
• Mandatory breaks – Property-carrying drivers must take a 30-minute break after driving for eight cumulative hours without at least 30 minutes off duty.
• Weekly limits for property haulers – Whether they carry property or passengers, commercial drivers cannot drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or after 70 hours on duty in 8 consecutive days, depending on their schedule.
• Restart option – Property haulers may restart their 7/8-day work period by taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

Mississippi generally adopts FMCSA’s hours-of-service regulations for intrastate commercial drivers, with limited exemptions for certain agricultural and utility operations. However, the state differs from federal law in areas such as vehicle weight limits, intrastate operating authority, and minimum insurance coverage.

Why Hours-of-Service Rules Matter for Mississippi Truck Drivers

Hours-of-service rules exist to protect other drivers, passengers, and all road users. Mississippi truck drivers often spend long hours behind the wheel, and fatigue can set in quickly without proper rest. According to research from the National Safety Council, fatigued driving significantly increases the risk of severe accidents, endangering lives and heightening the risk of severe injuries in a crash. Drowsy driving truck accidents can also lead to costly legal consequences for drivers and motor carriers. By following FMCSA regulations, truck drivers can stay alert and do their part to prevent fatigue-related accidents.

HOS limits also create a consistent standard for drivers across the trucking industry. With clear limits on driving time, trucking companies cannot — and should not — pressure drivers to keep working when they need rest. A mandatory rule helps truck drivers protect public safety while completing their job duties safely, and the penalties for HOS violations can be severe.

Common Hours-of-Service Violations in Mississippi

Common violations of HOS regulations include:

• Exceeding daily driving limits – Truck drivers may deliberately continue driving past the maximum number of hours allowed for property or passenger trips, increasing the risk of fatigue-related accidents.
• Breaking the 14/15-hour duty rule – Some drivers stay on duty beyond the allowed window, even if they take breaks during that time.
• Skipping the required 30-minute break – Property haulers sometimes drive more than 8 hours without stopping for the mandatory rest period.
• Ignoring weekly limits – Truckers may exceed the 60/70-hour cap in 7 or 8 consecutive days, which violates FMCSA rules.
• Failing to restart correctly – A driver cannot skip the required 34 consecutive hours off duty to start a new cycle, even if they feel alert and want to take an additional route to earn more income.
• Logbook errors or falsification – While FMCSA requires most interstate commercial truck drivers to track their HOS through electronic logging devices (ELDs), certain exceptions allow drivers to use paper logs. Manipulation or falsification of time logs can lead to severe penalties if regulators discover inconsistencies during an inspection.

How Hours-of-Service Violations Lead to Truck Accidents

Failure to obey truck driver rest requirements in Mississippi can lead to crashes because fatigue impairs the human body in a way similar to alcohol. A tired truck driver is more likely to have:

• Slower reaction time – Fatigue can delay a truck driver’s response to changing traffic conditions or when others on the road make sudden maneuvers.
• Impaired judgment – Tired drivers may struggle to make safe decisions about their speed, distance from other cars, and lane changes or merges.
• Decreased focus – Extended periods without rest make it harder for truckers to stay alert, which can lead to mistakes such as missed signals or overlooked hazards.
• Higher chance of drifting – Exhausted drivers are more likely to drift into another lane or off the road, especially if they nod off for a few seconds or experience microsleep.
• Impaired coordination – Intense fatigue can affect a truck driver’s motor skills, making it harder for them to steer, brake, or shift properly.

Liability in Truck Accidents Caused by Fatigued Drivers

A commercial driver may be liable for a truck crash if they willfully violated truck driver fatigue laws and continued to operate while tired. You may be able to hold a trucking company liable if it pressured the driver to break hours-of-service rules or failed to monitor its driver’s schedule. In some cases, liability in a truck accident claim can extend to shippers or brokers that set unrealistic delivery schedules. An experienced Mississippi truck accident lawyer can assess your situation and conduct a thorough investigation to identify who’s responsible for your commercial vehicle accident and injuries.

How Our Mississippi Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help

At Mama Justice – MW Law Firm, our Mississippi truck accident attorneys understand the impact a severe collision can have on your life. We can work directly with you to investigate the wreck’s cause, gather critical evidence, and handle every other aspect of your truck accident case.

What sets our firm apart is that we provide more than legal assistance. We create a supportive environment to defend your rights and help you heal. Our team includes medical management staff who can help connect you with specialists, physical therapists, and mental health providers, providing you with the necessary resources for recovery.

Ready to Take the Next Step? Talk to Our Legal Team Today

With numerous six- and seven-figure case results* for truck accident victims, Mama Justice has the proven track record and commitment to providing supportive legal services that make us a standout choice in the Deep South. Let us help you pursue maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related losses.

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