HOS waivers expand to more than 20 states as FMCSA responds to regional emergencies
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued or extended three separate Hours of Service (HOS) waivers affecting truck drivers across more than 20 states, according to recent federal notices.
Two of the waivers apply to states in the Northeast and the Midwest. Those two actions specifically allow extended driving under the waiver conditions, reflecting the agency’s use of emergency flexibility to support essential freight movement during regional disruptions.
Collectively, the current set of waivers means HOS relief now reaches 20 states, highlighting how quickly these exemptions can spread when weather or other emergency conditions affect multiple regions at once.
For drivers, HOS waivers matter because they can temporarily change how time behind the wheel is managed when emergency declarations are in place. They are intended to help keep critical supplies moving and reduce delivery delays during disruptions, while still requiring carriers and drivers to operate safely and within the limits of what the waiver permits.
FMCSA periodically uses emergency authority to provide short-term HOS relief tied to specific events and geographic areas. These waivers are not blanket exemptions for all freight, and they typically apply only to certain loads or operations connected to emergency response and recovery.