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FMCSA Grants Three-Month HOS Waiver for Fuel Transporters

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has implemented an immediate Hours of Service waiver for motor fuel carriers through December 16. The waiver allows drivers to operate up to 16 hours daily instead of the standard 11-hour limit within a 14-hour period.

The temporary relief anticipates elevated fuel demand during late summer and fall months. Drivers operating vehicles with sleeper berths must take six-hour consecutive breaks, while those without must rest eight hours.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy underscored the waiver's importance for supply chain stability. "Short-term disruptions can delay gasoline and diesel shipments, impacting freight operations and pump prices," Duffy said, citing benefits for agricultural producers facing shipping constraints.

The waiver carries standard restrictions: carriers with out-of-service orders are ineligible, drivers must carry physical waiver documentation, valid CDLs are required, and conditional safety ratings disqualify operators. Currently, FMCSA maintains only two other active waivers related to wildfire recovery in Nebraska and Oregon.