FMCSA issues winter storm Hours-of-Service waiver for dozens of states
A severe winter storm prompted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to issue an emergency regional Hours-of-Service (HOS) waiver for certain truck drivers and motor carriers.
Effective through 11:59 p.m. on February 6, 2026, a Regional Emergency Declaration is in effect, providing temporary regulatory relief for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to emergency relief efforts in the affected states.
The FMCSA waiver provides relief from:
- 49 CFR § 395.3 – Property-carrying vehicle driving limits
- 49 CFR § 395.5 – Passenger-carrying vehicle driving limits
Carriers may use the relief regardless of trip origin, as long as the operation supports emergency relief in the affected states, officials say.
States covered under the waiver are as follows:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Washington, D.C.
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The HOS waiver does NOT apply to:
- Routine commercial deliveries
- Mixed loads with nominal emergency supplies
- Long-term recovery or infrastructure repair after the emergency phase
Carriers using the HOS waiver should be aware that:
- All other FMCSRs remain in effect, including CDL, drug and alcohol testing, insurance, HAZMAT, and size/weight requirements.
- Out-of-service drivers or carriers are NOT eligible until the order is officially lifted.
- When emergency assistance ends, normal HOS rules apply, with required rest breaks before resuming standard operations.