BC Class 1–4: Hours of service

On-duty and off-duty time, daily and shift limits, cycles and resets, deferral, sleeper berths, personal use, ELDs and records of duty status, the 160 km exemption and other jurisdictions.

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Hours of service · Question 1Score 0/0

How long after the start of a work shift does driving have to stop?

Tip: press 1–4 to answer and Enter for the next question.

Study reference: Driving Commercial Vehicles (ICBC, 2024 edition), Ch. 7 Hours of service requirements — Day, work shift and cycles, Sleeper berth, Electronic logging devices

All 14 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

How long after the start of a work shift does driving have to stop?
1. After 18 hours have elapsed
2. After 13 hours have elapsed
3. After 14 hours have elapsed
4. After 16 hours have elapsed
What is the daily driving limit under the NSC hours of service?
1. 11 hours
2. 13 hours
3. 15 hours
4. 14 hours
Since when have electronic logging devices been required in B.C., unless exempt?
1. October 18, 2021
2. August 1, 2023
3. April 1, 2025
4. January 1, 2020
Team drivers split sleeper berth time. What is the minimum length of each period?
1. Four hours
2. Two hours
3. Six hours
4. Eight hours
How much time off duty must a driver take every day?
1. At least 8 hours
2. At least 12 hours
3. At least 10 hours
4. At least 6 hours
Which condition is part of the 160 km radius exemption from keeping a log?
1. Never carry more than 10 passengers on any trip
2. Drive only on paved highways
3. Work fewer than 8 hours a day
4. Return to the terminal daily for 10 hours off
How can a driver on Cycle 2 reset the cycle?
1. Take 72 consecutive hours off duty
2. Take 24 hours off in any blocks
3. Take 36 consecutive hours off duty
4. Switch to Cycle 1 for a day
How many past days of records of duty status must you carry, besides today's?
1. The previous 30 days
2. Only today's record
3. The previous 7 days
4. The previous 14 days
How much of the daily 10 off-duty hours may be deferred to the next day?
1. Up to eight hours
2. Up to two hours
3. Up to four hours
4. None at all
In the United States, how many hours may you drive after 10 hours off duty?
1. 9 hours
2. 13 hours
3. 15 hours
4. 11 hours
Does the reclining back seat of a bus count as a sleeper berth?
1. Only for the co-driver
2. No
3. Yes, on trips over 500 km
4. Yes, if it reclines fully
You wait 40 minutes at a weigh scale. How is that time recorded?
1. As sleeper berth time
2. As driving time
3. As on-duty time
4. As off-duty time
Which vehicles are covered by the National Safety Code in B.C.?
1. Commercial vehicles licensed over 5,000 kg GVW
2. Only tractor-trailers over 63,500 kg
3. Only vehicles that cross into Alberta
4. Any vehicle used to commute to work
What is the daily distance limit for the personal use exemption?
1. 160 km
2. 50 km
3. 75 km
4. 25 km

Hours of service: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

National Safety Code (p. 133)

The National Safety Code (NSC) sets minimum safety standards for commercial vehicles, drivers and carriers in Canada; carriers must ensure drivers and vehicles meet them.
NSC covers commercial vehicles licensed over 5,000 kg GVW, vehicles under the Passenger Transportation Act (taxis, buses, limousines) and commercial vehicles seating 10 or more passengers plus the driver.
In B.C., NSC hours of service are in Division 37 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations.
Hours of service rules exist because a fatigued driver is more likely to crash.

On-duty and off-duty time (p. 134)

On duty includes driving, and inspecting, servicing, repairing, conditioning or starting a commercial vehicle.
On duty also includes being a co-driver not resting in the sleeper berth, loading or unloading, checking the load, and waiting at customs, a scale or for a peace officer.
Waiting along the route because of a crash or other unexpected event is on-duty time.
Riding as a passenger to where you will start driving is on duty if the carrier asked you to and you did not have eight consecutive hours off immediately before.
Time on a ferry is not on-duty time unless you are working (for example, a bus driver selling tickets).
Off-duty time is any time not on duty and includes time in a sleeper berth.
At least 10 hours off duty every day.
Off-duty time beyond the eight consecutive hours can be taken in blocks of 30 minutes or more.
Each day must include at least two hours of off-duty time that is not part of the eight-consecutive-hour period.
Every driver must take 24 consecutive hours off duty in every 14 days.

Day, work shift and cycles (p. 134–136)

A "day" is a 24-hour period starting at the hour the carrier sets.
Daily limits: at least 10 hours off duty, no more than 13 hours driving, no driving after 14 hours on duty.
You can put in 14 hours on duty without driving at all.
A work shift is the time between two off-duty periods of at least eight consecutive hours; no driving after 16 hours have elapsed since the shift started.
Any off-duty period of eight consecutive hours or more resets the work shift.
Cycle 1: no driving after 70 on-duty hours in seven days.
Cycle 2: no driving after 120 on-duty hours in 14 days, and 24 consecutive hours off must be taken before reaching 70 on-duty hours.
Reset Cycle 1 with 36 consecutive hours off; reset Cycle 2 with 72 consecutive hours off.
The cycle start time stays the same; you must reset the cycle to change it.

Deferring off-duty time (p. 136)

You may defer up to two hours of the daily 10 off-duty hours to the next day.
The deferred hours must not be part of the eight consecutive off-duty hours and must be added to the next day's eight consecutive hours.
Mark the deferral as "Day 1" and "Day 2" in the record of duty status.
Under the 160 km local exemption, off-duty time cannot be deferred.

Sleeper berth (p. 136–137)

The same driving and on-duty limits apply to sleeper berth drivers.
A bus back seat or a reclining seat is not a sleeper berth.
A single driver may split off-duty sleeper time into two periods if neither is under two hours and the total off duty is at least 10 hours.
Team drivers may split sleeper time into two periods if neither is under four hours, the two total at least eight hours and total off duty is at least 10 hours.

Personal use exemption (p. 138)

Personal driving of a commercial vehicle is not on-duty time if it is not used for the carrier's business, is unloaded, tows no trailer, travels at most 75 km a day, odometer readings are logged, and you are not under an out-of-service declaration.

Electronic logging devices and RODS (p. 138–141)

Electronic logging devices (ELDs) have been required since August 1, 2023, unless exempt (for example, local driving).
An ELD automatically records driving time, must be certified by an accredited body and must be mounted in a fixed position visible from the normal driving position.
A driver must not use more than one ELD for the same period and must certify the day's record right after the last entry.
The carrier must keep an ELD information packet in each vehicle: user's manual, data-transfer instructions, malfunction instructions and enough paper records of duty status for at least 15 days.
If an ELD malfunctions, tell the carrier as soon as the vehicle is parked; the carrier must repair or replace it within 14 days (or by trip end if the trip is longer); use an alternate RODS meanwhile.
A paper RODS includes date, start time if not midnight, printed name and signature, co-driver, start and end odometer, distance driven, plate or unit number, cycle, carriers and their addresses, and hours in each duty status.
The duty-status totals on a RODS must add up to 24 hours.
Record the place (municipality or highway location and jurisdiction) of every change in duty status.
Carry your RODS up to the last change in duty status plus copies for the present day and the previous 14 days (24 days under oilwell service hours) and supporting records.
Submit RODS and supporting records to your carrier within 20 days.
Peace officers (police, commercial transport inspectors, motor vehicle inspectors) may demand your RODS and supporting records such as bills of lading, shipping documents, fuel and accommodation receipts.
Driving after reaching the cycle's maximum on-duty hours can get you ordered out of service; only the driver, not the vehicle, is out of service.

160 km radius exemption (p. 142)

No RODS or ELD is needed if you stay within 160 km of the home terminal, take 10 hours off duty in the day and return to the terminal each day to start at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.
The carrier must then record start and release times, total on-duty hours and the cycle, and keep them at least 6 months.

Other jurisdictions (p. 142–143)

North of the 60th parallel (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut): up to 15 hours driving, no driving after 18 hours on duty, eight consecutive hours off after that.
North of 60: Cycle 1 is 80 on-duty hours in seven days; Cycle 2 is 120 hours in 14 days with 24 consecutive hours off before reaching 80 hours.
In the U.S.: up to 11 hours driving after 10 hours off; no driving beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty; 60 hours in seven days or 70 in eight days; restart after at least 34 consecutive hours off; drug and alcohol testing program.
A B.C. driver may not drive a commercial vehicle in the U.S. with a history of epilepsy, insulin-controlled diabetes, or without meeting U.S. hearing standards.

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