Whether you run "intrastate" or "interstate" decides which Hours of Service and ELD rules you follow. The line isn't just about crossing a state border — it's about where your freight is going.
You're operating in interstate commerce if your trip crosses a state line, crosses into another country, or hauls freight that is part of a shipment ultimately moving across state or international lines — even if your truck never leaves your home state. A classic example: you pick up a container at a port and haul it 60 miles to a warehouse, all within one state, but the goods came from overseas. That's still interstate. When you're in interstate commerce, the federal FMCSA rules apply.
You're intrastate only when the freight begins and ends inside a single state and is never part of a longer, across-the-line journey. In that case, your state's Department of Transportation or Public Utilities Commission sets the Hours of Service and ELD rules — not the FMCSA directly.
The federal interstate limits are the ones most drivers know: an 11-hour driving limit, a 14-hour window, a required 30-minute break, and 60/70-hour weekly caps. For the full breakdown, see our HOS rules explained guide.
Many states adopt these same limits for intrastate drivers, but not all. Some states allow a longer daily driving limit (for example, more than 11 hours) or a higher weekly total. Because the details vary state to state, don't assume — confirm the exact numbers with your state agency before you rely on them.
The federal ELD mandate requires most interstate drivers who keep records of duty status to use a registered ELD. For intrastate operation, it's up to the state: many states have adopted their own ELD requirement mirroring the federal rule, while others have different timelines or exemptions. If you split your time between intrastate and interstate work, the safest approach is to run a compliant ELD and log by the stricter standard.
Both interstate and many intrastate drivers can use short-haul provisions to avoid keeping full electronic logs if they stay within an air-mile radius and return to the same work location each day. See the 150 air-mile short-haul exemption and the broader ELD mandate explained for the specifics.
Eagleye ELD lets you set your operating type and applicable rule set so your driving, shift and cycle clocks are calculated correctly — and it warns you before you hit a limit. If your work mixes intrastate and interstate loads, that automatic tracking means you don't have to do the math in your head at a scale or roadside inspection.
Track your HOS the right way — start for $1 →Yes, but so does hauling freight that is part of a shipment moving across state lines or internationally — even if your truck never leaves the state. Interstate commerce is about where the freight is ultimately going, not just where your wheels roll.
It depends on your state. The federal ELD mandate applies to interstate drivers who must keep records of duty status. Many states have adopted ELD rules for intrastate carriers too, but the requirements and effective dates vary — check your state agency.
Not always. Many states model their intrastate rules on the federal limits, but some allow different driving or on-duty maximums and weekly totals. Always confirm your specific state's Hours of Service rules.