Short Haul Exemption: Ultimate Guide

What is the Short Haul Exemption?

The FMCSA hours of service (HOS) short-haul exemption allows certain commercial drivers to be exempt from some of the HOS rules that apply to long-haul truckers.

The most important relief being that these drivers don’t have to log their hours of service with an Electronic Logging Device (ELD). 

Short-Haul Exemption: Requirements at a Glance (49 CFR 395.1(e)(1))

Requirement / Rule	What it means (plain English)	Quick notes / tips
Operating area	Driver must operate within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location.	150 air miles ≈ 172.6 statute miles (straight-line). Plan conservatively.
Return-to-terminal	Driver must report to and return to the normal work reporting location the same day.	“Normal work reporting location” = the usual terminal/base where the driver starts/ends the day.
Duty window	Driver must be released from duty within 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty.	If the day is going sideways, assume you may need a log and plan accordingly.
RODS / ELD exemption (when you qualify)	If the driver meets the short-haul conditions, they’re exempt from maintaining RODS and not required to use an ELD for that day.	You still need time records (see below).
If you exceed the exception (radius or 14 hours)	The driver must complete a paper log/RODS for that duty day (because the day no longer qualifies).	Treat it like a “log-required day.” Document it cleanly.
“8 days in 30” ELD trigger	If a driver ends up using paper logs more than 8 days in any 30-day period, they generally lose the paper-log/RODS exception and would need an ELD (unless another exemption applies).	Track these “log-required days” so you don’t get surprised.
Time records required	You must keep daily time records showing: time reporting for duty, time released from duty, and total hours on duty (and best practice: total driving time).	Keep them at least 6 months and be able to produce them quickly if requested.
60/70-hour limits still apply	Short-haul changes how the day is recorded, not the weekly limits. Drivers must still follow 60/70-hour rules and can use a 34-hour reset.	Make sure dispatch planning accounts for weekly hours.
30-minute break	When the driver qualifies for short-haul, the 30-minute break requirement does not apply for that day.	If the day stops qualifying and a log is required, the break rule may come back into play.
ELD is allowed (even if not required)	You can run an ELD even if the driver qualifies for short-haul.	Many fleets use ELDs for speed/behavior monitoring, DVIRs, and maintenance workflows.

DOT Short Haul Exemption Basics

These FMCSA ELD exemptions only applies to truck or bus drivers who:

• Operate within a 150 air mile radius of their work reporting location and
• Return to that location at the end of each duty day.

(This hours of service regulations exemption is also often called that 150 air mile radius exemption as well because of this. Some others may refer to these as the DOT hours of service for local drivers as well).

Under the short-haul exemption, drivers are allowed to remain on duty for up to 14 hours, but the driving time is limited to 11 hours.

In addition, drivers are not required to take a mandatory 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, as is required for most truck drivers.

Additionally, drivers who use the short haul exception are not required to keep records of duty status (RODS) or use ELDs.

Check out our video on the DOT short haul exemption here:

To use these e log exceptions, a short haul trucking driver simply have to have a time card or a time sheet which is usually kept at their normal work reporting location. This is a key part of the DOT Hours of Service for local drivers.

However, it’s important to note that the short-haul exception has specific requirements that must be met, including requirements for maintaining records of duty status and the use of their time card system. 

Drivers and carriers must ensure that they are in compliance with these requirements in order to take advantage of the exception.

Who qualifies for the Short Haul Exemption?

In the final rule of the ELD mandate, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration outlined which drivers would not have to use electronic logging devices. These FMCSA exceptions granted relief from the requirements of both §395.8 and §395.11 if a driver qualifies. 

To qualify for the hours of service (HOS) short-haul exemption, a commercial driver must meet the following criteria:

• The driver must operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their work reporting location and must return to that location at the end of each duty day.
• The driver must not exceed a 14-hour workday, with a maximum of 11 hours of driving time.
• The driver must be off duty for at least 10 hours before starting a new duty day. 
• The driver must keep accurate time records rather than a record of duty status (RODS) to document compliance with the short-haul exemption.

As long as a driver meets each of those conditions, they can use the 150 air mile exemption. 

How does the FMCSA Short Haul Exemption work? 

The short-haul exemption is intended to provide greater flexibility to drivers who operate within a limited geographic area and who are able to return to their home terminal each day. 

This FMCSA HOS exemption is often used by short haul trucking drivers who make multiple short trips within a single day and need to take advantage of the additional time to complete their deliveries.

The short haul exception works great for intermodal container haulers who operate around port locations, local delivery drivers, roll-off dumpster companies, dump truck operations and ready mix haulers. 

This isn’t a complete list, of course. Any short haul drivers who operate within a 150 air-mile radius of their work reporting location and who return to that location before the end of each 14 hour driving window can use the exception. Another important short haul exception that can be used to extend your 14 hour driving window is the DOT 16-hour rule.

Using the exception is simple. Just record when a driver reports to their “normal work reporting location at the beginning of their duty period. Once they finish their duty day, simply record the time that they returned on the same “time card”. 

We help monitor and manage your entire Hours of Service program as part of our comprehensive DOT compliance services!

Logging the Short Haul Exemption:

As we mentioned, you must keep a time card or other document for each day that you plan to use the the 150 air mile exemption. 

These hours of service records must include:

• The time the driver reports for duty
• The time the driver goes off duty
• The total number of hours the driver is on duty each day
• The driver’s total driving time for the last seven days

Pro Tip: Be sure to keep these time cards for at least 6 months. You also have to be prepared to produce them for inspection with a 2 business day notice as well. 

Grab a short haul exemption timesheet here!

No special documentation is required to use the exception, but you can gladly grab our short haul exemption truck card to share with each drivers who are using the exception.

Download our short haul exception “cab card”

Again, this isn’t required. But, it can help a driver explain their position if they’re stopped for a roadside inspection. 

If your driver is stopped for a roadside inspection while using this hours of service exemption and the officer refuses to recgonize the use of the exception for some reason, be sure to keep your DVER from the inspection and you can submit a DataQ to try and have it removed.

You would also want to keep any HOS supporting documents that can be used as evidence for the request (like bills of lading, GPS information or fuel receipts).

Don’t forget that you’re still subject to the 60 70 hour driving limits and have the 34 hour reset provision at your disposal.

Some officers may feel that a driver who is also running an ELD has to run the logging device and abide by the 395.8 and 395.11 regulations. This is untrue, of course.  

But, do remember that officers could use ELD information or a document (like a BOL for the shipment with a delivery location outside of 150 air miles) to invalidate the use of the FMCSA short haul exemption. You’ve been warned!

How does 150 air miles work? 

150 air miles is equal to 172.6 “statute” or over the road miles.

The 150 air mile radius can be thought of as being “as the crow flies” from your normal work reporting location. 

So, your normal work reporting location would be Point A and your destination for your trips have to be within 150 air miles (or nautical miles) from your reporting location.

A pretty good way to easily find this is to:

• Pull up Google Maps
• Enter Your Starting and Ending Destinations
• Click on the option for “Walking” instead of driving

This gives you a pretty good approximation for air miles.

You can also just:

• Pull up Google Maps
• Right click on the map
• Select “Measure Distance” at the bottom of the pop out menu
• You can then drag the little white dot out 150 miles from your starting point  

You can also check out this link to see how to determine this on PC Miler. 

What are some limitations on using the Short Haul Exemption?

It’s important to note that the short haul exemption has some restrictions and limitations, and it’s up to the driver to know and understand these rules in order to be compliant with the regulations.

For example, the short-haul exemption does not apply to drivers who are transporting some types of hazardous materials, and the rules may also vary based on state regulations.

Additionally, the exemption is not available to drivers who regularly operate commercial motor vehicles outside of the 150-air-mile radius. If you go outside of the 150 air miles during any duty day, you would have to complete a paper log/ RODS for that day only. 

Pro Tip: If you exceed the 150 air mile radius or 14 hour period more than 8 times in a 30 day period, you have to switch to an ELD.   

Common Violations & Enforcement Pitfalls

Even well-run fleets get tripped up by short-haul because the rules are easy to almost meet. Here are the most common issues DOT auditors and roadside inspectors tend to find:

• Confusing air miles vs. road miles
  The short-haul radius is measured in air miles (straight-line distance), not the miles shown on a route or odometer. A run that looks “close enough” by road can still push beyond the 150 air-mile limit.
• Not returning to the normal work reporting location
  To qualify, the driver must start and finish at their normal work reporting location the same day. Ending the day at a different terminal, parking location, or customer site can break the exception—even if everything else looks compliant.
• Time records missing required details
  Short-haul doesn’t eliminate recordkeeping—it changes it. Time records should clearly document report time, release time, and total on-duty hours (and it’s smart to capture total driving time too). Missing, inconsistent, or “recreated later” time records are a common audit finding.
• Dispatch quietly pushes the day beyond 14 hours
  Short-haul only works if the driver is released from duty within 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty. Delays, extra stops, breakdowns, long loading times, or a last-minute pickup can turn a short-haul day into a log-required day—and fleets don’t realize it until after the fact.
• The “8 days in 30” pattern that forces ELD use
  If short-haul drivers are frequently having “log-required days” (because they exceed the exception), it can trigger the rule that effectively pushes them into ELD territory. Track these days proactively—if you’re seeing a recurring pattern, it’s a sign the operation isn’t truly short-haul in practice.
• Assuming “we’re local” means “we’re automatically short-haul”
  Being a local fleet doesn’t guarantee short-haul eligibility every day. The exception is day-by-day, and one non-qualifying day needs to be documented correctly.
• No written process for exception days
  Many violations happen because there’s no clear plan for what drivers should do when a day stops qualifying (who they notify, when they switch to a paper log, how the carrier records it, and how it’s reviewed).

Recent Changes to Other HOS Exemptions

In September 2020, the FMCSA changed the short haul exemption to allow Commercial motor vehicle drivers to extend their maximum on-duty period from 12 hours to 14 hours. Additionally, they extended the range of the exception from a 100 air mile radius to a 150 air mile radius.

They also made these changes to other key hours of service exemptions: 

Adverse Driving Conditions

CMV Drivers are now allowed to extend their 11-hour driving clock and 14-hour driving window by up to 2 hours when adverse driving conditions are encountered. Again, you can use this with the 150 air mile radius exemption.

Split Sleeper Berth Flexibility

Truck drivers may now use the split sleeper berth exception split their required 10-hour off-duty period, as long as one off-duty period (whether in or out of the sleeper berth) is at least 2 hours long and the other involves at least 7 consecutive hours spent in the sleeper berth. This is commonly known as an 8/2 split or a 7/3 split. All split sleeper berth pairings must still add up to at least 10 hours. Also, when used together, neither of the split time periods count against the driver’s maximum 14- hour driving window.

30 Minute Break Requirement

Drivers must now take a 30-minute break when they have driven for a period of 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption. Previously, you would have had to take your 30 minute brake within 8 hours of coming on duty. 

Pro Tip: If you’re going to have to create a paper log for a day, you’re going to have to abide by the 30 minute break requirement for that day as well. So, plan on doing that as soon as you know you’ll not be able to use the short haul exemption.

DOT Short Haul Exemption FAQs

What happens if you’re using the short haul exemption and you end up exceeding the exception limits (150 air mile radius or 14 hour duty window)? 

You must log your hours using a paper log for that duty day. If you do this more than 8 times (days) in any 30 day period, you would then have to use an electronic logging device. 

Can a driver use both the adverse driving conditions exemption with the short haul exemption?

Absolutely! You can use both if you qualify for both exceptions to the HOS regulations. But, if the driver doesn’t make it back to their terminal location before the end of their 14 hour duty day, they would have to complete a paper log/ RODS (Record of Duty Status). 

Can a driver who claims the short haul exception use personal conveyance?

Yep! There is no connection between personal conveyance and  the short haul exemption. You can use both exceptions at once in combination or by themselves. 

Can you run an ELD in your truck if you’re taking advantage of the short haul exception? 

Sure and it’s probably a great idea to do so for a number of other possible reasons. Most importantly, ELDs can be helpful in tracking speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors. Increasingly, truck camera systems/event recorders are being tied into ELDs as well. Many fleets also use ELDs for DVIR reporting and other vehicle maintenance activities. 

What records do I have to keep if my driver uses the short-haul exemption (instead of an ELD/logbook)?

You still have to maintain “time records” (time cards/time sheets) for each day the driver uses the exemption. At minimum, those records should show the time the driver reports for duty, the time they go off duty, the total on-duty hours each day, and the driver’s total driving time for the last 7 days. Keep these records for at least 6 months and be ready to produce them within 2 business days if requested during an audit or investigation.

Are short-haul drivers still subject to the 60/70-hour limits (and the 34-hour reset)?

Yes. The short-haul exemption mainly changes how the day is recorded (time records instead of RODS/ELD) and can remove the 30-minute break requirement when the exemption conditions are met—but it does not remove the 60/70-hour weekly limits. Short-haul drivers can still use the 34-hour reset the same way long-haul drivers do.

Does the short-haul exemption eliminate the 30-minute break requirement?

In many cases, yes. If the driver properly qualifies for the short-haul exemption, they are not required to take the 30-minute break that normally applies after 8 hours of driving. If they don’t qualify on a given day (for example, they exceed the radius or duty window and must complete a paper log), the break rule can apply for that day—so it’s important to know as early as possible when the exemption won’t work.

Short Haul Exemption: Wrapping Up

As you can see, the DOT short haul exemption can be a pretty powerful tool in your Hours of Service toolbelt. Hopefully, you can see some value to using the exception if you’re truck or buses are regularly operating within 150 air miles of your terminal location. 

Keep in mind, that there are some HOS rules that must still be followed and you’ll need to keep accurate time cards for each driver operating under the exemption.

Be especially careful if some drivers may go outside of the radius or not return to the same location in the 14 hour duty period.

If that happens, they’ll have to at least prepare a paper log for that duty day.    

Regulatory References

Here are the official FMCSA and federal regulation sources that govern the DOT short-haul (150 air-mile) exception and related HOS requirements:

• 49 CFR 395.1 — Short-haul operations (150 air-mile radius driver) (395.1(e)(1))
• FMCSA — Summary of Hours of Service Regulations (includes Short-Haul Exception overview)
• FMCSA — Hours of Service (HOS) rules (30-minute break rule + short-haul rule changes)
• FMCSA — Hours of Service Exceptions (guidance for short-haul + what to do when you exceed limits)
• FMCSA PDF — Interstate Truck Driver’s Guide to Hours of Service (time records vs. RODS/ELD and short-haul context)
• Cornell Law — 49 CFR 395.1 (alternate regulation text reference)

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About Sam Tucker

Sam is the Founder and CEO of My Safety Manager, a DOT compliance management service for trucking companies operating since 2015. He has 14+ years of trucking insurance underwriting and risk-control experience and holds CPCU, CIC, CRM, TRS, ARM, AU, AMIM, API, AIS, and AINS designations. He writes practical guidance on FMCSA compliance and fleet safety to help carriers reduce violations, downtime, and insurance risk.