US Waives Fuel Truck Hours Amid Diesel Pressures
US Waives Fuel Truck Hours Amid Diesel Pressures
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The waiver took effect on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and is scheduled to remain in place for 90 days.
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The Transportation Department said the measure is also intended to limit cost and availability pressures for agricultural harvesting and consumers, not only for fuel carriers and freight operators.
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The department described the waiver as a form of emergency flexibility similar to temporary service waivers previously used during wildfires, hurricanes and winter storms; a nationwide waiver was also issued during the March 2020 emergency.
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it acted “in anticipation of the need for greater hours-of-service flexibility,” rather than waiting for an actual nationwide fuel shortage or shipment breakdown to occur.
The U.S. Transportation Department has issued a 90-day waiver allowing truck drivers hauling gasoline and diesel to work up to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, up from the usual 14-hour limit CCJDIGITAL. The move, effective September 16, aims to prevent fuel shipment delays as diesel prices hit a record $6.29 per gallon amid limited refining capacity and global supply pressures Jalopnik.
The waiver applies only to carriers with safe safety records and requires drivers to take 10 consecutive hours off duty when needed WHAS11. Officials say the temporary flexibility is an emergency response to prevent broader supply-chain disruptions during peak winter demand, similar to waivers used during hurricanes and wildfires WFAA.
Record Diesel Prices Drive Emergency Measure
Diesel prices have soared to unprecedented levels, squeezing fuel carriers and threatening to disrupt shipments during harvest season CCJDIGITAL. Limited refining capacity, Russia's export restrictions, and refinery attacks have tightened global supplies. The waiver aims to get more fuel to market faster without waiting for an actual shortage to occur Jalopnik.
Two Extra Hours Per Driver, With Safety Guardrails
Drivers can now work 16 hours instead of 14 within a 24-hour window CCJDIGITAL. However, the waiver excludes carriers with conditional safety ratings. Drivers who need rest must still take 10 consecutive hours off duty WHAS11. The rule applies only to those transporting fuel, not all truck drivers.
Relief for Farmers and Consumers, Not Just Truckers
The waiver extends benefits beyond fuel companies. The Transportation Department said it reduces cost and availability pressures for agricultural harvesting and everyday shoppers WFAA. Higher fuel costs ripple through food prices and supply chains. The department framed the 90-day window as temporary emergency flexibility, similar to pandemic-era relief measures Jalopnik.
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