Free dot hours of service compliance checklist

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Free DOT hours of service compliance form (PDF-ready). Covers FMCSA 49 CFR 395 HOS rules, ELD requirements and driver duty status. Download free.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 2026

How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.

• ✓PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
• ✓Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
• ✓Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails

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Benefits of using this dot hours of service compliance checklist

• FMCSA compliance: systematic HOS audits demonstrate compliance with 49 CFR 395 and reduce the risk of violations during compliance reviews and roadside inspections.
• Fatigue prevention: monitoring driving hours and mandatory rest periods helps prevent fatigue-related crashes caused by drivers exceeding safe operating limits.
• CSA score protection: HOS violations are a leading contributor to adverse CSA safety scores, and proactive auditing reduces violation rates.
• ELD mandate verification: the form includes checks for ELD data integrity, unassigned driving time and data transfer functionality required under the ELD mandate.
• Audit readiness: a documented HOS compliance program with completed audit forms provides the evidence FMCSA auditors look for during compliance reviews.
• Driver coaching: identifying patterns of borderline compliance or recurring violations allows targeted driver coaching before violations escalate to enforcement actions.

How to use this dot hours of service compliance checklist

1. Select the driver and audit period, then gather ELD records, supporting documents and any previous audit findings.: Choose the driver to audit and define the review period (typically 7 or 14 days). Pull the ELD records of duty status for the period. Collect supporting documents including fuel receipts, toll records, dispatch records and Bills of Lading. Review any previous audit findings for this driver to check for recurring issues.
2. Review each day of the audit period for compliance with driving time limits, on-duty window limits and mandatory break requirements.: For each day, verify that total driving time did not exceed 11 hours (property carriers) or 10 hours (passenger carriers). Confirm that all driving occurred within the 14-hour or 15-hour on-duty window. Check that a 30-minute break was taken before the eighth consecutive hour of driving where required. Flag any day where limits were approached within 30 minutes as a coaching opportunity.
3. Calculate cumulative on-duty hours for the 7-day or 8-day period and verify the 60/70-hour rule and any 34-hour restart claims.: Total all on-duty hours across the review period and compare against the applicable 60-hour/7-day or 70-hour/8-day limit. If the driver used a 34-hour restart, verify that the restart period included two consecutive periods between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and that the on-duty clock was properly reset after the restart.
4. Audit ELD compliance: check device registration, review unassigned driving time, test data transfer and verify malfunction reporting.: Confirm the ELD is registered and listed on the FMCSA approved ELD list. Review any unassigned driving time and verify the driver or carrier has accounted for it. Test the ELD data transfer function (wireless and USB). Check that any ELD malfunctions were reported to the carrier within 24 hours and that the driver reconstructed records of duty status on graph paper during the malfunction period.
5. Reconcile supporting documents with ELD records to identify discrepancies in location, timing or duty status.: Compare fuel receipt timestamps and locations with ELD records. Cross-reference toll records, dispatch logs and delivery receipts with recorded driving segments. Any discrepancy between supporting documents and ELD data may indicate falsification of records, which is a serious FMCSA violation. Document all discrepancies for investigation.
6. Record all findings, assign corrective actions, obtain signatures and file the completed audit form.: Document every violation and coaching opportunity identified during the audit. Assign corrective actions with specific due dates. Have the driver acknowledge the findings if present. Obtain the auditor signature and submit the completed form to fleet management for review. Retain the audit form and supporting records for at least six months as part of the carrier compliance file.

In MapTrack, you can track your fleet with gps and digital pre-starts. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

Frequently asked questions

What are the FMCSA hours of service limits for truck drivers?

Under 49 CFR 395.3, property-carrying CMV drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. All driving must occur within a 14-hour window from the start of on-duty time. A 30-minute break is required before the eighth consecutive hour of driving. Drivers may not exceed 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. A 34-hour restart resets the weekly clock if it includes two periods between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

How often should carriers audit driver HOS records?

Industry best practice recommends auditing every driver at least quarterly. New drivers should be audited monthly during their first six months. Drivers with recent HOS violations should be placed on monthly auditing until they demonstrate sustained compliance. An immediate audit should be triggered by any roadside violation, fatigue-related incident, ELD malfunction or scheduling complaint.

What happens if an ELD malfunctions during a trip?

Under the ELD mandate, if an ELD malfunctions the driver must notify the carrier within 24 hours. The driver must reconstruct the record of duty status on graph paper or a printout for the current day and the previous 7 days. The driver has 8 days to get the ELD repaired or replaced. The carrier must maintain a record of the malfunction and the corrective action taken.

What is the difference between HOS compliance and ELD compliance?

HOS compliance means the driver is operating within the driving time, on-duty window and rest period limits set by 49 CFR 395. ELD compliance means the driver is using a registered, properly functioning electronic logging device to record their duty status as required by the ELD mandate. A driver can be ELD-compliant (using the device correctly) but still violate HOS rules (exceeding driving limits). Both must be verified independently during a compliance audit.

What supporting documents should be reconciled with ELD records?

Carriers should reconcile fuel receipts, toll records, dispatch logs, Bills of Lading, delivery receipts, weigh station records and any other documents that show the driver location and timing. Discrepancies between supporting documents and ELD data may indicate inaccurate or falsified records, which is a serious FMCSA violation that can result in driver disqualification and carrier penalties.