Personal Conveyance

Personal conveyance refers to the use of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal transportation while the driver is off duty. Under FMCSA guidance, driving in personal conveyance status does not count as on-duty driving time and is not subject to Hours of Service limits. This allows drivers to move their truck for personal reasons such as finding food, fuel, safe parking, or lodging without consuming their available driving hours.

For personal conveyance to be valid, the driver must be relieved of all work duties and responsibilities, and the movement of the vehicle must be purely for personal benefit rather than to advance the load toward its destination. The driver must be in off-duty status on their ELD, and the vehicle may be laden or unladen. However, the driver cannot use personal conveyance to circumvent HOS regulations by making progress toward the load's delivery point.

Personal conveyance is logged as off-duty driving on the ELD, creating an automatic record that can be reviewed during compliance audits and roadside inspections. Carriers should establish clear personal conveyance policies for their drivers to prevent misuse, as improper use of personal conveyance is a common HOS violation that can result in penalties and negative CSA score impacts.