A Practical Guide to Federal Hours of Service Rules for Canadian Fleet Managers
General educational information about federal Hours of Service rules, electronic logging devices, and where to verify current Canadian requirements.
Important product boundary and non-legal-advice notice: Easyfleet is not an ELD or HOS logging service and does not manage, monitor, calculate, or certify HOS/ELD compliance. Easyfleet supports maintenance and fleet-operation workflows only. This article is general educational information, not legal or regulatory advice; carriers and drivers remain responsible for determining and meeting the rules that apply to their operations.
Hours of Service (HOS) requirements are set through federal and provincial/territorial rules. The federal summary below is intended to help fleets identify questions to verify, not to replace the Motor Vehicle Transport Regulations, a regulator's guidance, or qualified compliance advice. Requirements can differ by jurisdiction, operation, vehicle, exemption, and whether the undertaking is extra-provincial.
Core HOS Rules: The Foundations of Compliance
For extra-provincial commercial motor carriers operating south of 60° north latitude, the federal Motor Vehicle Transport Regulations set daily and cycle limits. Read the regulation itself before applying any summary.
Daily Limits (South of 60°N)
- No more than 13 hours driving in a day.
- No more than 14 hours on duty in a day.
- No driving after 16 hours have elapsed since the end of the most recent period of at least eight consecutive hours off duty.
- At least 10 hours off duty in a day, including at least eight consecutive hours; the regulation specifies how remaining off-duty time may be taken.
These points are a high-level summary of section 14 and related provisions. The regulation contains definitions, exceptions, deferral provisions, sleeper-berth rules, and different requirements for operations north of 60° north latitude.
Cycle Limits
The federal regulation provides two cycles:
| Cycle | On-Duty Limit | Reset Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle 1 (7 Days) | 70 hours maximum in 7 consecutive days | 36 consecutive hours off duty |
| Cycle 2 (14 Days) | 120 hours maximum in 14 consecutive days | 72 consecutive hours off duty |
The regulation sets out the circumstances and records associated with selecting or changing a cycle. Do not rely on this table alone when planning a schedule.
Electronic Logging Devices: Verify Certification and Applicability
Federal ELD rules apply to certain federally regulated commercial vehicles and include exemptions. Where an ELD is required, Transport Canada directs carriers to use a device certified by an accredited certification body. Confirm whether the requirement and an exemption apply to the specific operation, and check the current certified-device list rather than relying on a vendor claim.
The CCMTA ELD Technical Standard and certification information are useful technical references, but they do not replace the regulation or a regulator's interpretation. This article does not assert a new 2026 technical-standard version or enforcement program; consult the current official pages below for changes.
A Sensible Compliance Review
- Identify the jurisdictions and type of operation for each vehicle and driver.
- Read the applicable HOS provisions and any exemptions before building a schedule.
- If an ELD is required, verify its certification status on the current official list and retain the information required by the regulation.
- Ask a qualified compliance professional or the applicable regulator about facts that are unclear or operationally specific.
Sources
- Justice Laws Website — Motor Vehicle Transport Regulations (SOR/2005-313): https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2005-313/
- Transport Canada — Hours of Service: https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/hours-service
- Transport Canada — Electronic logging devices: https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/electronic-logging-devices
- Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators — ELD certification: https://www.ccmta.ca/en/eld-csa
Product Boundary
Important product boundary and non-legal-advice notice: Easyfleet is not an ELD or HOS logging service and does not manage, monitor, calculate, or certify HOS/ELD compliance. Easyfleet supports maintenance and fleet-operation workflows only. This article is general educational information, not legal or regulatory advice; carriers and drivers remain responsible for determining and meeting the rules that apply to their operations.