Federal Canadian Hours of Service: Key Questions for Fleet Managers
A source-led introduction to federal Canadian Hours of Service rules and ELD certification. Easyfleet does not provide HOS or ELD compliance.
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.
Start With the Applicable Rule
Canadian HOS obligations are not one identical rule set for every fleet. Federal Motor Vehicle Transport Regulations generally govern extra-provincial undertakings; provinces and territories may regulate intra-provincial operations. Confirm the vehicle, operation, jurisdiction, exemptions, and current regulatory text before making a compliance decision.
Federal South-of-60°N Reference Points
For an extra-provincial carrier operating south of 60° north latitude, the federal regulation includes daily limits of 13 hours driving, 14 hours on duty, and a 16-hour elapsed-time window after a qualifying off-duty period. It also requires 10 hours off duty in a day, including at least eight consecutive hours. Definitions, exceptions, sleeper-berth provisions, and deferral rules matter; read the regulation for the complete requirements.
Cycle Reference
The regulation provides a Cycle 1 limit of 70 on-duty hours in seven consecutive days and a Cycle 2 limit of 120 on-duty hours in 14 consecutive days, with prescribed reset periods. It also contains rules for cycle selection and changes. Treat this as orientation, not a scheduling instruction.
ELDs Are a Separate Product Category
When the federal ELD mandate applies, Transport Canada says the ELD must be certified by an accredited certification body. Check Transport Canada's ELD guidance and the current CCMTA certification information before selecting a device. Certification, applicability, and enforcement information can change.
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.