Hours of service (HOS) cycles are critical for ensuring driver safety and regulatory compliance in the US and Canada. Motive helps fleets manage these cycles efficiently, supporting a wide range of rules to fit any operation type.
Overview
HOS cycles set limits on how much time drivers can spend on duty over a rolling period, helping to prevent fatigue and maintain compliance with federal and provincial regulations. Key features include:
- Comprehensive coverage: Supports US federal, state-specific, and Canadian cycles
- Flexible cycle management: Easily assign and switch between cycles for cross-border or special operations
- Admin and driver control: Configure and update cycles in both the Fleet Dashboard and Driver App
- Automatic compliance: Automatic cycle switching for seamless border crossings
Basics
HOS cycles, mandated by agencies like FMCSA (US) and Transport Canada (Canada), are rules that limit the total on-duty hours a driver can accumulate over a rolling period (such as 7 or 8 days). Their purpose is to prevent driver fatigue by ensuring regular periods of rest, with different rules based on country, region, and operation type.
Motive supports the following primary HOS exceptions:
- US federal: 70 hours in 8 days, 60 hours in 7 days, and short haul exceptions.
- US state-specific: Alaska (70hr/7day, 80hr/8day), California (80hr/8day), Florida (70hr/7day, 80hr/8day), Texas (70hr/7day).
- Canada south: 70 hours in 7 days, 120 hours in 14 days, oil and gas exceptions.
- Canada north: 80 hours in 7 days, 120 hours in 14 days.
- Canada provincial: Alberta provincial.
Motive also supports special rules for oilfield operations and separate cycles for property- and passenger-carrying vehicles, where applicable.
Rolling cycle clocks: Each day the system looks back over the specified period (e.g., past 7 or 8 days) to calculate total on-duty hours.
Resets: Drivers can restart their cycle clock. In the US, a 34-hour off-duty period is required. In Canada South, a minimum of 24 consecutive hours off-duty is needed for a reset.
It’s important to select the correct cycle to match your business’s operating region and type.
Primary and secondary cycles
Motive lets fleets assign both a primary and a secondary HOS cycle to each driver, providing flexibility for cross-border or multi-jurisdictional operations.
Primary cycle: The main HOS rule assigned to a driver, used for most operations.
Secondary cycle: An alternative HOS rule, which drivers can switch to as needed.
Common uses:
- Drivers who regularly cross between the US and Canada.
- Operations switching between standard and oilfield rules.
- Fleets with mixed property and passenger vehicles.
Assigning dual cycles ensures compliance wherever your drivers operate.
Assigning cycles
For fleet admins
- Set a default cycle for the company:
- In the Fleet Dashboard, go to Admin > Compliance > Default Log Settings.
Select the default cycle for all new drivers.
- Assign & edit individual driver cycles:
- In the Fleet Dashboard, go to Admin > Drivers.
- Click a driver’s name to open their profile.
Set or update their primary and secondary cycles.
- Control driver permissions:
In the Fleet Dashboard, go to Admin > Driver App > Settings.
Enable or disable drivers to edit their account and log settings as needed.
- View assigned cycles:
- Each driver’s profile displays their current primary and secondary cycles.
For drivers
- Open the Motive Driver App.
- Go to Settings > Cycles.
- Select or change your assigned cycle(s) (if permitted by your fleet admin).
Switching cycles
Manual switching & regulatory requirements
- In Canada, drivers must have the required off-duty time (e.g., 24 consecutive hours for a cycle 1 reset) before switching.
Steps to manually switch cycles:
- In the Driver App, open your log detail screen.
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Select Cycle Rule.
- Switch between the Primary or Secondary cycle.
Automatic border crossing switch
Motive can automatically switch a driver’s HOS cycle when crossing the US/Canada border. This feature is available when the following conditions are met:
- The driver has a US cycle set as primary and a Canadian cycle as secondary, or vice versa
- The app will immediately recalculate available on-duty hours based on the new rules after the switch.
The active cycle will be visible in the HOS Recap, Log PDF, and on the Fleet Dashboard driver profile page.
FAQs
What is the difference between the primary and secondary cycle?
The primary cycle is your main HOS ruleset; the secondary is an alternative you can switch to if your work requires it.
How do I know which HOS cycle applies to me?
Your fleet admin assigns cycles based on your operation region and type.
- Open the Driver App.
- Go to Settings > Cycles.
- Check your assigned cycles under this section.
Can I change my HOS cycle at any time?
You may change cycles if allowed by your fleet admin, but you must meet regulatory requirements (such as completing a reset) before switching.
What happens if I cross the US/Canada border?
If your cycles are set up correctly, Motive can automatically switch your cycle to match your new jurisdiction. The automatic switch is designed to occur when a single driving period begins in one country and ends in the other.
How does switching cycles affect my available hours?
Switching cycles recalculates your available on-duty hours based on the new ruleset, which is shown in the app and on your logs.
Can I use oilfield exceptions or special cycles?
Yes, Motive supports oilfield exceptions and other special cycles. Your fleet admin can assign these if your operation qualifies.
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