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FMCSA Doubles Emergency HOS Relief Period to 30 Days

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has restored a 30-day automatic hours-of-service exemption for drivers providing direct emergency assistance, reversing a 2023 decision that cut the period in half.

The final rule, effective Monday, allows carriers responding to regional emergencies declared by state governors or FMCSA to operate without federal HOS restrictions for up to 30 days. The agency previously shortened the automatic exemption to 14 days, a move that prompted industry petitions for reconsideration.

FMCSA said the extended period reduces administrative burden when disaster recovery operations extend beyond two weeks. The exemption applies only to vehicles directly assisting with emergency response and supplies restoration, not all trucking operations in affected regions.

The agency retains authority to extend exemptions beyond 30 days if necessary. If an emergency declaration expires before 30 days, the exemption terminates accordingly. Industry groups including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and state transportation departments in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming supported the restoration.