United States

• Commercial Motor Vehicles (FMCSA):

  • No handheld phone use: Drivers cannot hold devices, dial more than one button, or text while driving pinnaxis.com+5ldas.ca+5amazon.com+5bclaws.gov.bc.ca+6fmcsa.dot.gov+6akdlawyers.com+6.

  • Hand-free Bluetooth is allowed—but only with voice activation or single-touch operations bclaws.gov.bc.ca.

• State-by-state rules on headphones/earbuds:

  • Entirely banning both ears: California, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington akdlawyers.com+121800lionlaw.com+12vlaw com+12.

  • Permits single-ear use (e.g., for calls or GPS): Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Alaska 1800lionlaw.com.

  • Other states may not explicitly ban distracted use, but it is still risky fmcsa.dot.gov+10vlaw.com+10surex.com+10.

• CMV driver safety impact:

  • Texting and handheld use dramatically increase crash risk (up to 23× for text, 6× for dialing) advocatedaily.com+8fmcsa.dot.gov+8fmcsa.dot.gov+8.

  • Penalties range from fines to license disqualification and high civil penalties caasco.com+2fmcsa.dot.gov+2akdlawyers.com+2.

Canada

• Distracted driving laws:

  • Provinces restrict drivers from using handheld devices for texting, calling, emailing, etc., according to Reddit.com.

  • Headphones/earbuds rules vary:

    • Ontario & BC: One ear is allowed for communication; both ears can result in a ~ $ $368 fine from the FMCSA.dot.gov+15advocatedaily.com+15reddit.com+15.

    • PEI bans all headphone use by new drivers; fines can reach $1,275 CAD.

    • Saskatchewan allows experienced drivers to use one wired earbud.

  • British Columbia BC Reg. 235/2021: If the device is voice-controlled or single-touch, one earpiece is allowed; both ears are prohibited. bclaws.gov.bc.ca.

• Commercial vehicles:

  • The same general rules apply—truckers must still use hands-free setups and ensure one-ear only (unless exempt). Wikipedia.org+5ldas.ca+5en. Wikipedia.org+5.

✅ Best Practices for Truckers

Tip	Details
Always use hands-free Bluetooth	Voice-activated or one-touch systems are compliant and safer.
Prefer one-ear headsets	Ensures awareness and legal compliance in most regions.
Check local laws	Provincial/state restrictions vary—stay updated.
Avoid music in headphones while driving	Audio should be for communication only.
Emergency preparedness	Remove or pull over if in emergency zones (construction, school, scale houses).

🧭 Final Thoughts

Choosing the right headset isn’t just about comfort or call quality but also compliance. Truckers in both Canada and the U.S. should:

1. Use voice-activated, hands-free headsets.

2. Stick to one-ear setups unless legally exempt.

3. Stay updated on provincial and state law changes.

Learn More About Rules-

• Learn more about FMCSA guidelines on hands‑free CMV use.

• Check your province’s distracted driving legislation (e.g., Ontario).

• For CMV specifics, see the British Columbia Hands-Free Regulation (Reg. 235/2021).