The HOS violations now carry more severe penalties in the United States, making truck drivers and carriers adjust their operational schedules and compliance programs more carefully. In 2023, the FMCSA revised penalties for HOS violations to further improve road safety and accountability during the reforms.
The New HOS Fine Structure
As of 2025, FMCSA will impose fines exceeding $19,246 for most non-recordkeeping HOS violations, which is a significant increase compared to prior years. Fines for severe violations such as exceeding the driving time limit by more than three hours will exceed $16,000. $30,000 penalties for carriers will be issued and will be systematic non-compliance. The updated civil penalty amounts mirror the seriousness of the safety risk non-compliance by carriers showing patterns of non-compliance.
What Causes More Severe Penalties?
Most penalties occur when a truck driver or trucking company do not follow the key regulations regarding the hours of service (HOS) regulations. This includes driving for more than the 14 hour maximum, driving over the 60/70 hour over the 7/8 days, and log books are being falsified. For roadside inspections, fines can be issued on the spot, in certain situations, giving the driver no way to operate a commercial motor vehicle until the situation is resolved.
New Regulatory Changes
The FMCSA is planning to institute some reforms to its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) System in 2025. For repeated HOS violations drivers now face penalties, and carriers are required to show evidence of compliance for the entire company. Most interstate carriers are still required to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to maintain real-time records and minimize violations of the HOS. For local drivers, expanded exemptions that allow longer daily shifts are available, but all basic HOS regulations still apply and violations of the shifts will be heavily fined.
Impact of Drivers and Carriers
By issuing high fines, the FMCSA is indicating their priorities are to discourage poor scheduling and to manage fatigue in drivers. Carriers, drivers, and CSA scores are all interlinked and directly responsible for the fines. If a company does not comply, it will lose clients, therefore compliance will be a compulsory business strategy.
Preparedness Steps for Compliance
To mitigate heavy penalties, drivers and carriers should utilize new ELD technology, conduct routine safety training, and perform detailed pretrip log examinations. Breaks and compliance documented within schedule will help circumvent violations regarding rest, total hours, and other on-duty violations.
Very Short Data Table: HOS Violation Fines (2025)
| Violation Type | Typical Fine (USD) |
|---|---|
| Minor (single) | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Egregious | $16,000+ |
| Patterned offenses | $30,000+ |
FAQs
Q1: What will be the HOS violation maximum penalization for 2025?
A: According to FMCSA, for every violation, fines could reach $19,246, and for especially criminal cases, over $19,246.
Q2: Is it possible for a driver to be immediately out of service for HOS violations?
A: Law enforcement officers can out of service a driver for acute HOS violations which are discovered during a compliance check.
Q3: What happens to a carrier with repeated violations?
A: Multiple violations can result in fines exceeding $30,000 and penalties to a carrier’s CSA score and reputation.
