Regional hours-of-service waiver period for truck drivers reverts to 30 days

October 7, 2026 By Brian Richesson 0 Comments

Propane industry drivers will have more flexibility to service customers during the busy season after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) amended the automatic relief period for hours-of-service (HOS) waivers to 30 days.

FMCSA published the final rule in the Federal Register on Oct. 5. According to the government agency, the action is in response to several petitions it received after publishing a final rule in October 2023 under the Biden administration, which had reduced the automatic relief period from 30 days to 14 days.

The new rule revises the length of emergency relief automatically triggered following a regional declaration of emergency by a state governor, the governor’s authorized representative or FMCSA. The exemption is limited by design, FMCSA says, as it impacts only those commercial motor vehicles providing direct assistance in response to a declared emergency from HOS regulations. It is aimed at restoring essential services and supplies.

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) was among the parties commenting on the rulemaking, noting in a member alert that it built an alliance seeking a reversal.

“During periods of peak demand and severe weather conditions, transportation flexibility is critical to keeping propane moving safely and reliably,” says Stephen Kaminski, NPGA president and CEO. “NPGA is pleased that FMCSA recognized the importance of this issue and acted on the concerns we raised.”

Featured homepage photo: Urupong/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

PERC honors propane delivery drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

How propane retailers prepare their fleets for winter reliability

ACE driver training program passes FMCSA audit