Canada HOS Rules 2026: Daily Limits, Cycles, Resets

Quick answer: In 2026, Canada's federal hours of service (HOS) rules south of 60°N allow 13 hours of driving a day, with no driving after 14 hours on duty or 16 hours after the last 8 consecutive hours off. Drivers need 10 hours off a day and follow Cycle 1 (70 hours in 7 days, 36-hour reset) or Cycle 2 (120 hours in 14 days, 72-hour reset).

Sources were checked on October 10, 2026: the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations (SOR/2005-313), the federal Contraventions Regulations, Ontario Regulation 555/06, Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, Transport Canada, the governments of Ontario and Alberta, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) and the US eCFR. This guide explains the rules; it is not legal advice.

What are Canada's HOS rules at a glance?

Canada's federal HOS rules and Ontario's provincial rules share the same core limits: 13 hours of driving, 14 hours on duty, a 16-hour work shift, 10 hours off duty a day and two cycles. The table compares the federal rules for driving south of 60°N with Ontario's regulation, which applies to commercial vehicles on Ontario highways.

Who do Canada's federal HOS rules apply to?

Canada's federal HOS rules are the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations (SOR/2005-313), made under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act. They cover commercial vehicles run by extra-provincial carriers: trucking or bus operations that travel between provinces or territories or across the Canadian border. The provinces and territories enforce them (Transport Canada ELD handout). Transport Canada says the rules also apply to US-based carriers and drivers working in Canada (Transport Canada).

A commercial vehicle is a truck, tractor or trailer (or a combination) with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4,500 kg, or a bus built to seat more than 10 people including the driver (SOR/2005-313, s. 1). Three kinds of vehicles are exempt. The first is a two- or three-axle vehicle hauling primary farm, forest, sea or lake products that the driver or carrier produced, or returning empty or with supplies for that work. The others are emergency vehicles and vehicles giving relief in a public welfare emergency (s. 2).

Carriers that operate only within one province follow that province's rules. Ontario's O. Reg. 555/06 covers trucks with a gross or registered gross weight over 4,500 kg and buses of any weight (O. Reg. 419/15, ss. 3 and 4). The full weight test is explained in what counts as a commercial vehicle in Ontario.

Ontario's rules are not limited to Ontario-only carriers. The Highway Traffic Act says no one may drive a commercial motor vehicle on an Ontario highway except in accordance with section 190 and the regulations made under it (s. 190(2)). Ontario also says its ELD rule covers trucks and buses that cross provincial borders or carry licence plates from outside Ontario (Government of Ontario).

Alberta's provincial regulation covers Alberta-only carriers whose vehicles are registered for 11,794 kg or more or seat 11 or more people including the driver (Government of Alberta).

How many hours can a truck driver drive in a day in Canada?

A driver can drive up to 13 hours in a day, but the 14-hour on-duty limit and the 16-hour work shift can stop driving sooner. Two sets of limits apply at the same time:

• Day limits: no driving after 13 hours of driving or 14 hours on duty in the day (s. 12). A day is a 24-hour period that starts at an hour the carrier sets and keeps for the whole cycle (s. 1).
• Work-shift limits: after 13 hours of driving or 14 hours on duty, the driver must take 8 consecutive hours off before driving again. The driver also may not drive once 16 hours have passed since the end of the last break of 8 or more consecutive hours (s. 13).

On-duty time includes driving, inspecting, fuelling, loading, unloading and waiting to be loaded or inspected. That means the daily vehicle inspection counts as on-duty time, and Ontario's inspection rules are explained in Ontario truck inspections. Breaks shorter than 8 hours count toward the 16-hour work shift unless they are part of a qualifying sleeper berth split.

Illustrative example: a driver comes on duty at 06:00 after 10 hours off and takes 2 hours of off-duty breaks during the shift. The 16-hour shift ends at 22:00, which leaves at most 14 hours on duty. If 3 of those hours are loading and waiting, the driver can drive up to 11 hours, not 13.

How much off-duty time does a driver need each day?

A driver must take at least 10 hours off duty in each day: the mandatory 8 consecutive hours plus at least 2 more hours. The extra 2 hours can be spread through the day in blocks of at least 30 minutes (s. 14).

A driver who is not using a sleeper berth split may defer up to 2 of those hours to the next day if all of these conditions are met (s. 16):

• The deferred time is not part of the mandatory 8 consecutive hours.
• On day two, the deferred hours are added to the 8 consecutive hours off.
• Off-duty time over the two days totals at least 20 hours.
• Driving over the two days totals no more than 26 hours.
• The record of duty status (RODS) states that the driver is deferring and whether it is day one or day two.

How do Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 work in Canada?

Every driver follows either Cycle 1 or Cycle 2, as the carrier requires. Cycle 1 bars driving after 70 hours on duty in any 7 days, and Cycle 2 bars driving after 120 hours on duty in any 14 days (ss. 24 to 27).

Both cycles also require at least 24 consecutive hours off duty in the preceding 14 days (s. 25). Resets and switches are set out in ss. 28 and 29. Because each limit applies to any 7 or 14 days, the oldest day's hours drop out of the total as each new day starts.

How do you calculate a logbook recap in Canada?

A recap adds up the on-duty hours, driving plus all other work, for today and the previous 6 days on Cycle 1, or the previous 13 days on Cycle 2. A Cycle 1 driver may not drive once that total reaches 70 hours. A Cycle 2 driver may not drive once it reaches 120 hours, or 70 hours without 24 consecutive hours off (ss. 26 and 27).

Illustrative example (Cycle 1): a driver logged 12, 11, 6, 9, 12 and 8 on-duty hours over the previous 6 days, 58 hours in all, with no 36-hour break in that time. That leaves 12 on-duty hours today before the total reaches 70 and driving must stop. Tomorrow, the oldest day (12 hours) drops out and today's hours are added. A driver who reaches 70 can wait for older days to drop out, or take 36 consecutive hours off to reset the total to zero (s. 28).

How does the split sleeper berth rule work in Canada?

A solo driver can split the required off-duty time into 2 sleeper berth periods of at least 2 hours each that total at least 10 hours. A team of drivers can use 2 periods of at least 4 hours each that total at least 8 hours (ss. 18 and 19).

For a solo driver, splits of 8 + 2, 7 + 3, 6 + 4 or 5 + 5 hours all meet the length rules, because each period is at least 2 hours and the total is 10. A 9 + 1 split does not. For a team, each period must be at least 4 hours, so 4 + 4 meets the rule and 5 + 3 does not.

The split counts only if:

• The rest is taken in a sleeper berth that meets Schedule 1. Among other things, the berth must be at least 1.9 m long, 60 cm wide and 60 cm high, with a mattress at least 10 cm thick.
• Driving in the periods immediately before and after each sleeper period totals no more than 13 hours, with no driving after the 14th hour of on-duty time.
• No driving is allowed after the 16th hour, counted without the qualifying sleeper periods.
• No off-duty time is deferred to the next day.

Illustrative example (solo driver, no other on-duty time): drive 7 hours, rest 4 hours in the berth, drive 6 hours, then rest 6 hours in the berth. The two rests total 10 hours. Driving around the first rest totals 13 hours (7 + 6), which is the limit. After the second rest, the split rule allows up to 7 more hours of driving, because the 6 hours before that rest plus the hours after it cannot exceed 13. The day limit in s. 12 still applies, though. If the carrier's day began when the first drive started, that day already holds 13 hours of driving, so the driver cannot drive again until the next day begins, 1 hour after the second rest ends.

What are Ontario's hours of service regulations (O. Reg. 555/06)?

Ontario's hours of service regulations are in O. Reg. 555/06 under the Highway Traffic Act. They use the same core limits as the federal rules: 13 hours of driving and 14 hours on duty in a day, a 16-hour work shift, 10 hours off daily, and Cycle 1 or Cycle 2. They cover trucks over 4,500 kg and buses of any weight on Ontario highways, and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) publishes Ontario's ELD requirements. The differences that matter when driving in Ontario are:

• Deferral: on-duty time over the two days may not exceed 28 hours, on top of the federal-style conditions.
• Adverse driving conditions: driving and on-duty time can each rise by up to 2 hours, but the 16-hour work shift cannot be exceeded. If the cycle limit is passed, it must be met again by the end of the next day.
• No-log radius: a driver who stays within 160 km of where the day started and returns there needs no RODS, but the operator keeps a daily record of duty times and the cycle. This does not apply to a driver who works for more than one operator that day.
• Exemptions: these include pick-up trucks used for personal purposes without pay and carrying no commercial cargo, tools or equipment. A pick-up truck here has a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 6,500 kg or less and an unmodified original (or identical replacement) box. Also exempt are two- or three-axle vehicles carrying the owner's farm, forest, sea or lake products, municipal transit buses, and some emergency, inspection and large-crane vehicles.

These rules are in Ontario Regulation 555/06. For CVOR, weights and other provincial rules, see Ontario trucking regulations.

What are the HOS rules north of 60 in Canada?

North of latitude 60°N, the federal limits are longer. After 15 hours of driving or 18 hours on duty, a driver must take 8 consecutive hours off before driving again, and may not drive once 20 hours have passed since the last 8-hour break (s. 39).

• Cycle 1 rises to 80 hours in any 7 days. Cycle 2 stays at 120 hours in any 14 days, with 24 consecutive hours off required before passing 80 hours (ss. 51 and 52).
• Resets remain 36 and 72 consecutive hours, and 24 consecutive hours off are still required in the preceding 14 days (ss. 50 and 53).
• A solo sleeper split needs 2 periods of at least 2 hours that total at least 8 hours; a team split needs 2 periods of at least 4 hours each that total at least 8 hours (ss. 41 and 42).
• Adverse driving conditions can add up to 2 hours of driving (s. 76).

Transport Canada's ELD handout, last modified May 18, 2023, says the regulations and the ELD requirement do not apply in Nunavut at present (Transport Canada).

Are there new HOS rules in Canada in 2026?

Neither the federal nor the Ontario HOS rules have changed in 2026. Justice Laws lists the federal regulations as current to September 21, 2026, with no amendment since June 12, 2021, the date ELDs became mandatory (SOR/2005-313). Ontario's regulation was last amended by O. Reg. 210/24, in force July 1, 2024, which updated its ELD exemptions (O. Reg. 555/06). Other provinces set their own rules for carriers that operate only within their borders, so check the province you operate in.

Federal HOS enforcement did change in 2023, through a different regulation: the Contraventions Regulations now let officers in most provinces ticket HOS breaches with set fines (listed in the fines section below).

The change to watch is technical. CCMTA published version 1.3.1 of the ELD Technical Standard, dated July 22, 2026, and Transport Canada says it will lead the standard's implementation, with a transition period for ELD providers and certification bodies (CCMTA; Transport Canada).

Is an ELD (electronic logbook) mandatory in Canada in 2026?

Yes, for federally regulated carriers. Since June 12, 2021, drivers who must keep a record of duty status (RODS) have had to use an electronic logging device (ELD) certified by an accredited body and listed on Transport Canada's certified device list. An ELD is not required in these cases (s. 77):

• Vehicles run under a permit or a Motor Vehicle Transport Act exemption.
• Rentals of 30 days or less that are not extended or renewed.
• Vehicles built before model year 2000.
• Drivers who stay within 160 km of the home terminal and return there each day for 8 consecutive hours off, if the carrier keeps the required records.

Transport Canada says a model year 2000 or newer vehicle with a pre-2000 engine is not exempt. Its handout says the provinces and territories, which enforce the rules, used progressive enforcement without penalties until January 1, 2023 (Transport Canada ELD handout). Transport Canada later said ELD enforcement took effect on that date (Transport Canada). Because enforcement is provincial, check how each province you drive in applies the federal rule.

Provincial ELD rules differ. Ontario has required certified ELDs since June 12, 2022 for truck drivers who operate only in Ontario and must keep a daily log, with penalties since January 1, 2023. Bus drivers in the same situation have needed ELDs since July 1, 2023. Ontario says the penalties apply to vehicles plated in Ontario or any other jurisdiction (Government of Ontario). Alberta says carriers that operate only in Alberta and are not federally regulated do not need ELDs at this time (Government of Alberta).

If an ELD shows a malfunction code, the driver tells the carrier once the vehicle is parked, records the code and keeps a paper RODS. The carrier must repair or replace the device within 14 days, or when the driver returns from a longer planned trip (ss. 78 and 81). Each vehicle must carry an ELD information packet that includes blank paper logs for at least 15 days (s. 77(7)). See also the ELD mandate guide.

What exceptions apply for bad weather, emergencies and personal use?

Three exceptions can stretch or pause the HOS clock: adverse driving conditions, emergencies and personal use of the vehicle. Each one must be noted in the RODS.

• Adverse driving conditions: these are snow, sleet, fog or other bad weather or road conditions that were not known, and could not reasonably have been known, right before driving began. The federal rules then allow up to 2 more hours of driving, on-duty and elapsed time to finish the trip. The driver must still take the 8 consecutive hours off, and the trip must have been possible under normal conditions (s. 76).
• Emergencies: the driving, on-duty and off-duty limits do not apply when a driver needs more driving time to reach safety in an emergency. The destination must be safe for the vehicle's occupants and other road users, or keep the vehicle and its load secure (s. 76).
• Personal use (personal conveyance): driving for personal use is not on-duty time if the vehicle is not used for the carrier's business, is unloaded with no trailer hitched, and goes no more than 75 km in a day. The driver must record the odometer reading at the start and end, and must not be under an out-of-service declaration (s. 1).

Two narrower rules also apply. On a ferry crossing of more than 5 hours, a driver does not need the usual 8 consecutive hours off. Instead, rest in the sleeper berth at the terminal, on the ferry and at a stop within 25 km of landing must total at least 8 hours. The driver records that time as sleeper berth time and keeps the crossing and rest accommodation receipts (s. 17). Oil well service vehicles can run under a provincial permit that replaces the cycle rules with at least 3 periods of 24 hours off in any 24 days (s. 63).

What logbook records must drivers carry and carriers keep?

Drivers who keep a record of duty status (RODS), which Transport Canada also calls a daily log, must carry the records for the current day and the previous 14 days. They must also carry supporting documents received on the current trip and produce them all when an inspector asks (ss. 84 and 98).

• Drivers send RODS and supporting documents to the home terminal within 20 days. Carriers file them at their principal place of business within 30 days and keep them for at least 6 months (s. 85).
• Supporting documents include bills of lading and itineraries, fuel, repair and inspection receipts, payroll records and settlement sheets, dispatch and trip records, fleet-management messages, and government documents that show where the vehicle was (s. 1).
• Carriers must check certified records against supporting documents, have drivers correct errors, monitor each driver's compliance, and record any non-compliance and the action taken (ss. 78.3 and 87).
• A driver may keep only one RODS per day, and no one may falsify records or tamper with an ELD (s. 86).

The 160 km exemption removes the logbook, not the limits. The carrier must still keep daily records of each driver's cycle and on-duty times, with supporting documents, for 6 months (s. 81).

What are the fines and penalties for HOS violations in Canada?

In most provinces, a federal HOS violation can bring a ticket of $300 to $1,000 for a driver or $600 to $2,000 for a carrier. A court conviction can bring a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $25,000 for a corporation, and an inspector can also put the driver out of service for 8, 10 or 72 hours, or until the problem is fixed.

Officers have been able to issue these tickets since 2023. Transport Canada announced the set fines on July 10, 2023, in three categories: minor, moderate and severe (Transport Canada). The amounts are in Schedule XVIII of the Contraventions Regulations. These tickets go through each province's own ticketing process, and Transport Canada says the Contraventions Act applies in every province except Alberta and Saskatchewan, and not in the territories (Transport Canada). Common examples:

Tickets do not replace court prosecution. On conviction, the Motor Vehicle Transport Act (ss. 18 and 19) allows fines of up to $5,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation.

Out-of-service periods are set separately:

The federal 72-hour period also covers keeping two logs for one day and tampering with an ELD, and it can last until a corrected record is provided. Driving when it would likely endanger the public, the driver or the carrier's employees can bring a 10-hour federal out-of-service period (ss. 4 and 91).

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, breaking section 190 or O. Reg. 555/06 carries a fine of $250 to $20,000, up to 6 months in jail, or both. Driving while prohibited carries a fine of $500 to $20,000 and the same jail limit. Ontario says ELD convictions also add points to the carrier's safety record. For how Ontario carrier records are read, see the CVOR abstract guide.

How do Canada's HOS rules differ from the US?

The US limits are shorter per shift. Under 49 CFR 395.3, a property-carrying driver may drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off and may not drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty. The driver also needs a 30-minute break from driving after 8 hours of driving and is limited to 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, with a 34-hour restart.

A driver who wants a fresh Canadian cycle before crossing north needs at least 36 consecutive hours off for Cycle 1, or 72 for Cycle 2, so the US 34-hour restart is not long enough (s. 28).

Transport Canada says US-based carriers and drivers operating in Canada must use an ELD certified for Canada, and US exemptions such as the agricultural exemption are not recognized in Canada (Transport Canada). The Canada vs US HOS comparison covers cross-border trip planning, and TruckerPro's HOS calculator models the US property-carrying limits for the US legs of a trip.

How can carriers stay compliant with Canada's HOS rules?

Compliance comes down to a few habits: set the rules in writing, plan every load against all of the limits, and audit logs against supporting documents.

1. Set each driver's day start time and cycle in writing, and keep the day start for the whole cycle.
2. Plan loads against the 16-hour work shift and the 14-hour on-duty limit, not only the 13-hour driving limit, and count loading and waiting time as on duty.
3. Track each driver's cycle recap, the 24 consecutive hours off required in the preceding 14 days and, on Cycle 2, the 24-hour break needed before passing 70 hours.
4. Confirm each ELD is on Transport Canada's certified list, then compare certified logs with bills of lading, fuel receipts and dispatch records. Record any problem and the fix, and keep everything for at least 6 months.

In TruckerPro, the dispatch driver roster can show each driver's duty status, the drive time remaining reported by a supported ELD connection, and how old that reading is, with stale readings flagged. Provider fields and setup vary, and feature availability varies by plan and supported provider (ELD integration).

Frequently asked questions

How many hours can a truck driver drive in Ontario?

A truck driver in Ontario can drive up to 13 hours in a day and up to 13 hours between breaks of at least 8 consecutive hours off duty. No driving is allowed after 14 hours on duty in a day, or once 16 hours have passed since the last 8-hour break. Ontario Regulation 555/06 and the federal regulations set the same limits.

Can I drive after 8 hours in the sleeper berth in Canada?

Yes, in most cases. Eight consecutive hours in the sleeper berth count as the mandatory 8 hours off duty, so a new work shift can start. The driver still needs 10 hours off duty in that day. The other 2 hours can be taken in blocks of at least 30 minutes, deferred to the next day under the deferral rule, or covered by a sleeper berth split that totals at least 10 hours. Day and cycle limits still apply.

How many hours off duty reset the 70-hour cycle in Canada?

The 70-hour cycle is Cycle 1, under which a driver may not drive after 70 hours on duty in any 7 days. It resets to zero after at least 36 consecutive hours off duty, so a US 34-hour restart is not enough. Cycle 2, which bars driving after 120 hours on duty in any 14 days, resets after at least 72 consecutive hours off. Switching from Cycle 1 to Cycle 2 takes 36 consecutive hours off, and switching back takes 72.

What are the fines for an HOS violation in Canada?

Federal tickets, available in every province except Alberta and Saskatchewan, carry set fines: $1,000 for the driver and $2,000 for the carrier for driving past the 13, 14 or 16-hour limits, and $500 and $1,000 for too little daily off-duty time or a cycle breach. An inspector can also put the driver out of service for 8, 10 or 72 hours, or until the problem is fixed. In court, the Motor Vehicle Transport Act allows fines of up to $5,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation, and Ontario's Highway Traffic Act sets fines of $250 to $20,000.

Do intraprovincial drivers need an ELD in Canada?

It depends on the province. The federal ELD rule covers extra-provincial carriers. Ontario has required certified ELDs since June 12, 2022 for truck drivers who operate only in Ontario and must keep a daily log, with penalties since January 1, 2023. Bus drivers in the same situation have needed ELDs since July 1, 2023. Alberta says carriers that operate only in Alberta and are not federally regulated do not need ELDs at this time.