Hours of Service Waiver Extends Fuel Haulers’ Workday 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is temporarily giving truck drivers hauling gasoline and diesel more flexibility under federal Hours of Service rules as the government responds to concerns about fuel supplies and rising costs.

The 90-day waiver took effect September 16, 2026. Under the temporary change, eligible drivers transporting gasoline and diesel can operate for up to 16 hours within a 24-hour period, provided they take required rest breaks.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said the action is intended to help prevent short-term supply chain disruptions from delaying fuel shipments.

Hours of Service Waiver Takes Effect for 90 Days

Under normal federal Hours of Service rules for property-carrying drivers, a driver generally may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty.

The new waiver provides additional flexibility for eligible drivers transporting gasoline and diesel, allowing them to operate up to 16 hours within a 24-hour period.

The waiver is scheduled to remain effective for 90 days.

USDOT said the additional flexibility is intended to help the fuel transportation industry respond to possible supply disruptions and avoid delays in gasoline and diesel deliveries.

The agency said those delays could have broader effects on freight transportation, agriculture, and fuel availability.

Who Can Use the New HOS Flexibility?

USDOT also established restrictions on which drivers and carriers can use the waiver.

According to the department:

• Drivers transporting gasoline and diesel can operate for up to 16 hours within a 24-hour period.
• Required rest periods remain in place.
• Drivers and motor carriers must be in good standing.
• Motor carriers with a conditional safety rating are excluded.
• Drivers or carriers subject to an active out-of-service order are also excluded.
• Drivers who feel fatigued must find a safe location and stop to rest.
• Carriers must report incidents to FMCSA within two business days.

The requirements mean the waiver provides additional operating flexibility without removing the responsibility to stop when a driver is fatigued.

What Changes From Normal Hours of Service Rules?

Federal Hours of Service regulations normally limit when property-carrying drivers can operate after beginning their workday.

Under the standard rules, a property-carrying driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after at least 10 consecutive hours off duty. The driver generally cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.

Drivers also generally must take a 30-minute break after eight cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption.

The new waiver extends the operating window for eligible gasoline and diesel haulers to as much as 16 hours within a 24-hour period.

USDOT’s announcement emphasizes that required rest breaks still apply.

The temporary action should not be interpreted as a nationwide extension of the workday for every commercial driver. Drivers hauling other types of freight remain subject to the standard Hours of Service requirements unless another exemption or exception applies.

Fuel Supply Concerns Behind the Waiver

USDOT said short-term supply chain pressures could delay gasoline and diesel shipments.

Those concerns come as fuel prices have climbed sharply.

The national average diesel price has reached record levels amid tight global supplies. International disruptions have placed additional pressure on petroleum markets, while demand for gasoline and diesel is expected to remain significant heading into the fall.

The federal government said the waiver is intended to provide more flexibility to move fuel where it is needed while reducing the risk of transportation delays.

Fuel transportation also has an impact beyond truck stops and gas stations.

Agricultural operations depend heavily on diesel during harvesting, while trucking companies rely on diesel to keep freight moving. Delays in fuel distribution can therefore affect other parts of the supply chain.

Hours of Service Safety Requirements Remain

Although eligible drivers receive additional Hours of Service flexibility, FMCSA is keeping several safety protections in place.

USDOT specifically stated that drivers who feel fatigued are required to find a safe place to rest and take a break.

The waiver also excludes motor carriers with conditional safety ratings and drivers or carriers under active out-of-service orders.

Incident reporting is another condition.

Motor carriers operating under the waiver must report incidents to FMCSA within two business days. USDOT said the requirement is intended to provide federal oversight while the temporary flexibility remains in effect.

Hours of Service regulations are designed in part to reduce fatigue by limiting driving and on-duty periods and requiring rest.

What Fuel Truck Drivers Should Know

The most important distinction for truck drivers is that the 90-day waiver is targeted relief rather than a permanent change to federal Hours of Service regulations.

It applies to drivers transporting gasoline and diesel and allows eligible operations to use a longer window of up to 16 hours within a 24-hour period.

Drivers hauling other freight should not assume the same flexibility applies to their operations.

The waiver also does not eliminate fatigue requirements. USDOT specifically requires a driver who becomes fatigued to stop at a safe location and rest.

FMCSA has used temporary regulatory relief in other situations involving emergencies and supply disruptions. Such actions allow the agency to temporarily adjust certain requirements without permanently rewriting federal regulations.

This latest action is scheduled to last 90 days from September 16.

For fuel haulers, that means additional operating flexibility is now available, but eligibility restrictions, required rest periods, fatigue protections, and incident-reporting requirements remain part of the temporary Hours of Service relief.