The video explains the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) temporary nationwide hours‑of‑service (HOS) waiver that applies to interstate transport of gasoline and diesel fuel and is effective until December 16, 2026. Qualifying drivers may drive up to 16 hours in any 24‑hour period, but must still observe mandatory rest: at least 6 consecutive hours in a sleeper berth (or 8 consecutive off‑duty hours if no berth). The waiver does not apply to carriers with a conditional safety rating or those under an out‑of‑service order, and all other FMCSA regulations—CDL, drug/alcohol testing, hazardous‑materials rules, insurance, and record‑keeping—remain in force. It is not an ELD exemption; drivers must still log duty status. Drivers must carry a physical or digital copy of the waiver and present it to law enforcement on request. If a driver accumulates 14 + hours under the waiver (or a mix of waiver and standard HOS), a 10‑hour off‑duty break is required before resuming driving. A qualifying crash must be reported to FMCSA within two business days. The presenter advises carriers to ensure dispatchers and drivers understand these conditions before using the waiver and to monitor for future updates.
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The FMCSA just issued a new nationwide HOS waiver for drivers hauling gas and diesel fuel. Under this temporary waiver, qualifying drivers may drive up to 16 hours in a 24-hour period. The new waiver expires on December 16th, 2026. The FMCSA says the temporary flexibility is intended to help address potential increases in fuel demand and ongoing supply disruptions. Normally, a property carrying driver is limited to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. This waiver temporarily replaces some of those normal HOS limitations for qualifying fuel hauling. But this isn't unlimited driving time. A driver operating under the waiver can't drive more than 16 total hours during any 24-hour period, even if another exception or exemption might also apply. There's also a mandatory rest requirement. A driver must receive at least 6 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth during each 24-hour period. If the vehicle doesn't have a sleeper berth, the driver must receive at least 8 consecutive hours off-duty. And this waiver applies specifically to the interstate transportation of gas and diesel fuel. It's not a general HOS waiver for the industry. Drivers also need to carry either a physical or digital copy of the waiver while operating under it and must provide it to law enforcement if requested. You can grab a printable copy to use by clicking the link in the comments. There are some important eligibility restrictions. A motor carrier with a conditional safety rating can't use the waiver. Also, carriers or drivers that are currently subject to an out-of-service order are also not eligible until that order has been properly rescinded. The waiver doesn't eliminate the rest of the FMCSA regulations. CDL requirements, drug and alcohol testing requirements, hazardous materials rules, insurance requirements, and other applicable regulations still apply. And importantly, this is an hours of service waiver. It is not an ELD exemption. Carriers still need to properly record and maintain drivers' duty status If a driver tells the carrier that they need immediate rest, the carrier must allow the driver to find a safe place to stop and provide at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before resuming driving. There is also an important rule when transitioning back to normal operations. If the driver has accumulated 14 hours or more while operating under the waiver or through a combination of waiver and normal operations, a 10-hour break is required. Carriers using the waiver also have a special crash reporting requirement. A qualifying crash involving a driver operating under the waiver must be reported to FMCSA within 2 business days. So, if your company hauls gas or diesel fuel, make sure your dispatchers and drivers understand exactly how this waiver works before using it. 16 hours of driving is significant flexibility, but it comes with very specific conditions. We'll continue monitoring for any changes or additional guidance. Please like and subscribe for more great DOT compliance and fleet safety tips.
