BIS Safety Software

Canada Hours of Service Training Module 2: Limits South of 60th Parallel

The constraint of time is universal. It is a non-renewable resource that everyone, especially professional drivers, must manage. Hours-of-service regulations are designed to prevent fatigued drivers from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). These regulations are in place to reduce the risk of fatal accidents caused by driver fatigue. The purpose of the Canada Hours of Service Training curriculum is to promote compliance with these regulations, while simultaneously fostering an understanding of how to manage time effectively to ensure both safety and productivity.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The constraint of time is a universal truth. Adding more time to an hour, day, or week is an impossibility. For professional drivers, the constraint of time is further heightened by the hours-of-service regulations. These regulations are designed to limit the driving hours of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, with the aim of preventing tired drivers from being on the road. The Canada Hours of Service Training curriculum is intended to assist drivers and operators in being compliant with these regulations, while simultaneously fostering an understanding of how to manage time effectively to ensure both safety and productivity.

The hours-of-service regulations do not directly limit the total amount of work a driver can do. However, they do prevent drivers from continuing to operate their vehicles once certain limits have been reached. These limits are in place to measure both the total hours of on-duty or work time and the start of the driver’s duty day. They also track the duration of driving hours.

In Canada, there are two sets of rules: one for operating south of latitude 60°N, or the 60th parallel, and another for operating north of latitude 60°N. This training module covers the regulations for drivers operating south of 60°N.

These limits, also referred to as “clocks”, track either a consecutive or a cumulative period of time within a workshift. It is pivotal for drivers to grasp how these limits interact, to prevent operating a commercial vehicle when fatigued.

Canada Hours of Service Training Module 2: Limits South of 60th Parallel is crafted to help drivers operating south of 60°N comply with the hours-of-service limits by ensuring they understand how each limit interacts. The module also aims to help them avoid operating a commercial motor vehicle when fatigued by knowing when to take a break and when to rest to reset their hours.

Target Audience: CMV Drivers Operating in Canada

Regulation Covered: SOR/2005-313

COURSE TOPICS

The eLearning course covers the following topics:

Ill or Fatigued Operator

Causes of Fatigue
Regulations Prohibit Fatigued Operation
Only the Driver Knows When They’re Fatigued

Workshift and Daily Limits

Workshift
Daily
16-Hour (Elapsed Time) Window

What Is the 16-Hour Window?
Time Used and Time Available

13-Hour (Driving) Limit

What Is the 13-Hour Limit?
Time Used and Time Available

14-Hour (On-Duty) Limit

What Is the 14-Hour Limit?
Time Used and Time Available

Off Duty Time

What Is the Minimum Off-Duty Period to Reset a Workshift?
How Many Hours of Off-Duty Time Are Required Per Day?
24-Consecutive-Hours Off Duty in Previous 14 Days

70- and 120-Hour (On-Duty) Cycle Limits

What Are the 70- and 120-Hour Cycles?

Cycle 1, the 70-Hour Cycle
Cycle 2, the 120-Hour Cycle

Time Used and Time Available

Cycle Restarts

What Are the Cycle Restarts?
Cycle Switching
Restarts are not Mandatory

Upon completion of this training course, learners will be able to:
- Determine when fatigue requires them to stop driving even if they have remaining legal operation hours
- Understand how the 16-hour window is calculated
- Identify which duty status the 13-hour limit tracks
- Clarify how the 14-hour limit is calculated
- Recognize off-duty requirements
- Explain Cycle 1, 70-hour/7-day cycle and Cycle 2, 120-hour/14-day cycle
- Identify the restart period for each cycle