34-Hour Restart Calculator
Determine the precise moment your 70-hour rolling clock resets to a clean sheet.
Calculations are based on your device's current timezone. Note: Ensure this matches your home terminal timezone (usually EST) or ELD logs before dispatching.
Time must be strictly logged under Off-Duty (Line 1) or Sleeper Berth (Line 2).
Any non-driving tasks (inspections, loading, fueling) break continuity and reset the 34-hour timer.
Operating a CMV for personal conveyance during restart is subject to strict carrier and DOT audit limits.
Restart Completion Date & Time
Loading completion date...
0.0h Remaining
Consecutive hours left to log
559.3 HRS
Logged off-duty so far: 559h 20m
Reset Complete
You now have a fresh 70.0 hours available.
This calculator provides estimates based on standard FMCSA Hours of Service regulations (§ 395.3). Your rest break started on Loading start date... and must continue completely uninterrupted for a minimum of 34 consecutive hours of combined Off-Duty and/or Sleeper Berth status. Entering On-Duty or Driving statuses on your ELD (even for yard moves or fueling) immediately violates rest continuity, causing your 34-hour clock to start over from zero.
Complete!
How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Select Your Start Date & Time: Input the exact calendar day and 24-hour timestamp when you parked your truck and changed your ELD status to Off-Duty or Sleeper Berth.
- 2
Audit Compliance Checklist: Verify you meet all FMCSA off-duty criteria (no driving, no fueling, no yard moves, completely free from work responsibilities).
- 3
Check Target Completion Time: Review your calculated target return-to-service date and time displayed in the main card. This shows exactly when you are legal to drive again.
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Watch Live Countdown Timer: Monitor your remaining rest clock tick down to zero in real-time, indicating when your 70-hour or 60-hour rolling cycles reset to a full clean clock.
What Is the 34-Hour Restart Rule?
The 34-hour restart rule is a provision under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours of service (HOS) regulations (§ 395.3) designed to help commercial truck drivers reset their cumulative on-duty clock. Instead of waiting for older days to naturally "drop off" their rolling 8-day recap, a driver can take a continuous rest period of at least 34 consecutive hours of off-duty status or time in a sleeper berth. Upon completion, their cumulative worked hours immediately wipe clean to 0.0, and they regain a fresh 70-hour clock.
This calculator automates the precise math of tracking your rest breaks. It parses your starting date and time, adds the mandatory 34-hour duration, and runs a live countdown timer ticking down the remaining hours, minutes, and seconds until your cycle is reset. It also includes an essential compliance checklist to remind you of the strict FMCSA rules regarding yard moves, on-duty tasks, and off-duty continuity.
What Breaks a Restart vs. What Keeps a Restart
Maintaining continuous rest is the most critical element of a legal restart. Any action logged as "on-duty" on your ELD, even for a few seconds, can invalidate your entire break and force a restart of your 34-hour clock.
What Breaks Your Restart Break
Any activity that benefits the carrier or constitutes work breaks your restart immediately. This requires restarting your 34-hour timer:
- Fueling your commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
- Performing pre-trip or post-trip vehicle inspections (DVIR).
- Loading, unloading, or securing freight cargo.
- Doing carrier paperwork or dispatch logs.
- Moving your vehicle in yard move or driving ELD status.
Note: DOT audits will cross-examine ELD geo-locations and tolls with restart timelines to detect violations.
What Keeps Your Restart Valid
These activities are legally allowed and count as consecutive off-duty rest time toward your 34-hour cumulative reset:
- Logging continuous Off-Duty (Line 1) sleeping at home, motel, or terminal.
- Logging Sleeper Berth (Line 2) rest in your tractor sleeper compartment.
- Combined logs of both off-duty and sleeper berth rest periods.
- Personal conveyance driving (within strict personal travel guidelines and carrier limits).
Tip: Keep receipts (diners, motels) during restarts as physical back-up proof for DOT roadside inspections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I restart my 70-hour clock?
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You can completely reset your 70-hour/8-day or 60-hour/7-day rolling clock to zero by completing at least 34 consecutive hours of off-duty status, sleeper berth status, or any combination of both.
Can a yard move or personal conveyance break my 34-hour restart?
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Yes. Any On-Duty time, including yard moves, loading, fueling, vehicle inspections, or administrative work, will instantly break your restart break, requiring you to start the 34-hour timer over from zero. Personal conveyance is allowed but must be logged strictly within regulated personal transit guidelines.
Does the 34-hour restart have to include two 1 AM to 5 AM periods?
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No. The requirement for two consecutive 1 AM to 5 AM rest periods was officially suspended and permanently repealed in the 2017 DOT Appropriations Act. Your restart can start at any hour of the day and end at any hour, as long as it lasts a continuous 34 hours.
How many times a week can I use the 34-hour restart?
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There is no longer any limit to how many times you can use a 34-hour restart. The old 2013 rule limiting drivers to only one restart per 168 hours (7 days) was repealed. You can utilize the 34-hour rest whenever your cycle needs it.
What happens if I perform work during my 34-hour restart?
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If you perform any work-related activities (fueling, logging on-duty, vehicle inspection, or paperwork) during your restart, the continuity of your rest break is broken. You must restart the entire 34-hour rest clock from the moment you return to off-duty status.
Is a 34-hour restart mandatory for truck drivers?
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No. The 34-hour restart is an optional provision. If you manage your hours of service such that your rolling 8-day cumulative sum never exceeds 70 hours (known as "running on the recap"), you can continue driving continuously indefinitely without ever taking a 34-hour restart.