The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a regional emergency declaration providing temporary hours-of-service (HOS) relief for motor carriers and drivers involved in emergency relief efforts amid severe winter storms and extreme cold affecting 38 states.
Effective immediately on January 23, 2026, and set to expire at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 6, 2026, the waiver applies to carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in the affected states, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin, among others.
The relief suspends driving limits under 49 CFR §§ 395.3 and 395.5, covering property-carrying and passenger-carrying vehicles. It applies regardless of trip origin, as long as operations support emergency relief in the designated regions.
Direct assistance includes transportation or services that support the immediate restoration of essential supplies or services during the emergency. Routine commercial deliveries, mixed loads with nominal emergency supplies, and long-term recovery or infrastructure repair activities are excluded.
All other FMCSA regulations remain in effect, including commercial driver licensing, drug and alcohol testing, insurance, hazardous materials, and size and weight requirements. Drivers or carriers currently out of service are not eligible until the waiver is lifted.
Once emergency assistance concludes, normal HOS rules and required rest breaks resume. FMCSA may modify, extend, or terminate the waiver based on evolving conditions.
This measure aims to facilitate urgent winter emergency response while maintaining overall safety. For full details, carriers and drivers should consult the official waiver documentation and coordinate with FMCSA and state authorities.
