- The number of hours a trucker can drive in one day
- The number of hours a trucker can drive in a day
- The factors that delay truck drivers
- Ways to move your freight farther, faster
It’s one of the most common questions in the transportation industry: The length of time it will take to transport freight from Point A to Point B.
The answer is that it depends — and yes, we can hear your groaning from here!
It’s not the answer any shipper wants, but it’s the truth. When dealing with so many variables — origin location, destination location, weather, and traffic, just to name a few — it’s hard to give a firm answer.
But many people aren’t aware of one of the biggest, most critical variables at play in this equation: truck driver Hours of Service (HOS).
Truck drivers have a limited number of hours they can spend behind the wheel each day, which can be a major factor in total transit time. But the rules regarding HOS can be tricky to understand.
That’s where we come in!
The Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) team has decades of experience in the trucking industry, so we understand that safe, legal driving practices are of the utmost importance — and that includes understanding and abiding by driver HOS regulations.
Read on to discover the factors that impact daily miles, how shippers can increase daily distance, and estimates of how far a driver is allowed to drive in one day.
How Many Hours Is a Trucker Allowed to Drive in One Day?
Truck drivers are allowed to drive a maximum of 11 hours in one day.
With that said, there are several other regulations and limits that factor into the number of hours a driver can be behind the wheel.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) set truck driver Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, which all U.S. truckers must follow.
These limits are the single most important factor that determines how many miles a driver can travel in one day. They include:
- 11-Hour Driving Limit: A driver is allowed to drive a maximum of 11 hours in one day. They can restart after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- 14-Hour Limit: A driver can legally work 14 hours each day, but only 11 of those hours can be spent driving. The remaining three hours can be spent on-duty but not driving. Many drivers use this time for loading and unloading, filling out paperwork, securing loads, doing inspections, and fueling.
- 10-Hour Break: After a maximum of14 hours on duty, drivers must take a break for at least 10 consecutive hours (unless following the split sleeper berth rule) This break can be in the sleeper berth or outside of the truck.
- 30-Minute Driving Break: After eight consecutive hours of driving, a driver must take a 30-minute break.
- 60-Hour Driving Limit: A driver may not drive after 60 hours on duty in seven consecutive days. After 60 hours in seven days, they must take a break of at least 34 consecutive hours — referred to as a 34-hour reset
- 70-Hour Driving Limit: Similar to the 60-hour limit, a driver may not drive after 70 hours on duty in eight consecutive days. They can start this period again following 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
Drivers use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track the amount of time they spend driving each day. Responsible drivers take these limits seriously and do not try to break any of these safety regulations.
And finally, a little myth-busting: Drivers are not limited by the number of miles they can drive per day — but we'll talk about mileage next anyway!
Related: Everything You Need to Know About ELDs
How Many Miles Can Truckers Drive in a Day?
Truckers aren't legally limited to a certain number of miles driven per day, but on average, the typical truck driver can travel about 500 miles per day.
This number is a reflection of drivers' maximum hours behind the wheel, average speeds, and other variables.
As we've already established, a driver can spend a maximum of 11 hours per day driving. Where speed is concerned, many trucking companies rely on “governors” which cap the driver’s speed at 65 miles per hour (mph).
If a driver traveled at 65 mph for their full 11-hour daily driving maximum, they’d cover 715 miles that day. (To put that into perspective, the entire state of Montana is 630 miles wide.)
But that isn't a realistic scenario — drivers simply do not travel totally empty interstates at a steady 65 mph for 11 hours straight. (They can't — they have to take a break after 8 consecutive hours of driving, anyway!)
With that in mind, let's find our way to more reasonable averages. After factoring in the speed limit variability of the roads in towns and cities, stopping-points like traffic lights or stop signs, and the all-import traffic report, the average speed for truckers is more like 50 mph.
The time attributed to other driver job duties also influence the number of miles a trucker can travel in a day. Within their daily 14-hour on-duty window, truckers have many non-driving duties to accomplish, including:
- Pre-trip inspection
- Planning their route
- Fueling up
- Loading/unloading
- Tarping and securing freight
- Ongoing training
Related Content: How Does a Trucking Company Determine Your Shipment's Route?
Drivers aren't typically paid for these tasks (most drivers are paid by the mile), but they still eat into their driving time for the day.
So, after accounting for the time invested in non-driving tasks, we've found most drivers can drive about 500 miles per day.
What Delays Truck Drivers?
Truck drivers' progress can be delayed by any number of circumstances that burn up their daily allotted HOS, including weather, road construction, empty miles ("deadheading"), geography, and oversize travel limitations.
If you’ve been in (or worked with) the transportation industry for any amount of time, you know that things don’t always go as planned.
There are circumstances beyond essential non-driving tasks — and beyond a driver’s control — that can make it difficult or downright impossible to travel 500 miles per day.
These considerations can translate to longer transit times, but an experienced transportation provider should be able to anticipate some of these elements and build them into your timeline.
Empty Miles/Deadheading
A driver’s 11- and 14-hour limits include all their time behind the wheel, regardless of whether they’re hauling freight.
That means that if a driver has to travel with an empty trailer (colloquially called "deadheading") to get to your location, those miles are adding to their HOS clock without getting your freight any closer to its destination.
As a shipper, here are some ways you can help prevent or mitigate the impact of deadheading:
- Be flexible with your scheduling, if possible
- Provide an arrival window to your carrier rather than a firm time, as this can help them find a truck nearer to your location to limit empty miles
- Allow your driver to overnight onsite, if possible.
Overnighting onsite allows your driver to to start their HOS clock at your location (rather than at their domicile or a truck stop offsite), leaving them plenty of time to load your freight without burning hours.
Weather
Weather is the ultimate uncontrollable variable. Inclement weather can come on without warning and delay a trucker's travel for minutes, hours, or days.
Many shippers don't consider the reality of weather's ripple effect. It may be 70 degrees and sunny in your location, but your shipments can still be impacted by the wintery weather your driver encountered earlier in their travels.
Icy and snowy roads will cause a driver to drive more slowly (or even stop) for their own safety, that of their freight, and that of the general motoring public.
Ultimately, there’s no way to skirt the impact of weather delays (unless you have a direct line to Mother Nature), so it’s best to simply keep an eye on the relevant forecasts and give your drivers a bit of grace.
Road Construction
Just like sitting in traffic, time spent waiting for road construction counts as "driving" — without making much progress toward a destination.
In areas that experience seasonal weather changes (i.e. the Midwest and northeast), road construction comes in with the spring thaw and goes out with the first frost.
Summer months are therefore the most common time for drivers to be delayed by construction and detours in these regions; in areas that experience mild, warm weather year-round, the prevalence of road construction will depend more on local projects and their timelines.
If you’d like to help mitigate delays in the final stretch of your driver’s journey, remember that most drivers won’t be local to your area and will therefore not be aware of road closures or detours due to construction. Be sure to communicate any major road construction projects in your area to your transportation provider.
They’ll be able to check your tips against your driver’s route and help them plan accordingly, which can ultimately help the driver save time.
Geography
In some parts of the country, freight can travel more quickly than in other areas.
Typically, drivers encounter more traffic when traveling through or near large cities, which translates to slower travel. Drivers will try to avoid cities during regular commuter hours, but sometimes those delays just have to be endured.
And here’s an interesting fact: Freight traveling in the eastern part of the U.S. is less likely to travel at a steady 50 mph.
This is because older infrastructure, more compact roads, and greater population density mean more stopping and starting, which results in fewer opportunities to get up to speed.
In the western part of the country, it’s a different story. Newer, wider roads, fewer drivers, and more space between cities means a driver may exceed the 500-mile-a-day average.
It’s important to note that these limits apply to legal freight. Over-dimensional (OD) loads will travel more slowly in nearly all circumstances.
Over-Dimensional Cargo
Permitted freight has extra restrictions and regulations around its movement, which means it often travels slower than legal freight.
Some factors that can impact oversize freight are:
- Restricted Travel Hours. In many states, OD freight can only travel during daylight hours — and not at all on holidays and weekends
- Less Direct Routes. Bridge heights and other restrictions may require oversize freight to travel on side roads or other slower routes.
- Escorts. In some jurisdictions, loads larger than a certain size must travel with an escort vehicle. While the escort can also make good time, traveling with an additional vehicle will slow things down.
No matter the size of your freight, it’s important to work with your transportation carrier to understand the estimated timing of your haul. They may also be able to make suggestions to help your freight travel more quickly and smoothly.
What If My Freight Needs to Travel More Than 500 Miles in a Day?
If a critical load absolutely needs to travel more than 500 miles in one day, the most effective solution is team drivers.
As the name implies, “team drivers” are two Class-A CDL-licensed drivers who work together, alternating their shifts behind the wheel to keep the truck moving during required breaks.
It’s important to note that team drivers still have rest periods when the truck isn’t moving. But that’s still twice as much drive time in a day, which can get you freight that much further along in its journey — at least under ideal circumstances.
Learn More About Using Team Drivers >
Of course, an extra driver amounts to extra costs. Expect to pay 30 to 40 percent more for a team driver load.
While it’s true that team drivers are the only way to achieve 1,000 miles in a day, there are some smaller ways to help your driver maximize their allowed drive time.
How to Move Your Freight Farther, Faster
The more time a driver can spend on the road, the faster your cargo will move.
As a shipper, you have an opportunity to help set drivers up for a smooth, successful run. By taking a few proactive steps in advance of any freight movement, you can facilitate a more seamless experience for all involved:
- Prepare before the driver arrives. Make sure your freight is ready for pick-up, your paperwork is in order, and your crew is present at your delivery dock.
- Allow the driver access to your amenities. It’s one less stop they'll have to make out on the road.
- Leverage your location. If you’re close to the driver’s last destination or their domicile and your load can wait until tomorrow, doing so can actually save you time and money (as the driver won’t have to burn hours getting to you).
- Alert your carrier to any local variables. If you’re aware of weather or road construction in your area that will likely cause delays, communicate that to your carrier as soon as possible.
- Communicate. The more detail you can provide about your shipment (i.e. dates, times, freight type, dimensions, piece count, exact addresses, equipment needs, etc.) the better off you and your driver will be.
Find a Carrier That Will Go the Distance for You
No matter how far your freight needs to travel, understanding the factors that influence transit times can help you set realistic expectations and make informed decisions.
From truck driver Hours of Service regulations to road conditions, geography, and shipper-driven efficiencies, many variables impact how quickly freight moves. By preparing ahead of time, staying flexible, and maintaining open communication with your carrier, you can help minimize delays and keep your shipments on track.
Of course, choosing an experienced, reliable transportation provider can help you get the most bang for your buck.
Download our free Freight Carrier Selection Checklist to get a simple, actionable rubric for vetting potential carriers.
It’ll help you optimize your overall freight strategy by narrowing down your search to the carriers that best fit your specific needs.
