US truck drivers get temporary hours waiver amid fuel supply concerns

Key facts

• The U.S. Transportation Department has issued a 90-day waiver for truck drivers handling gasoline and diesel.
• The waiver allows drivers to operate up to 16 hours within a 24-hour period, an increase from the previous 14-hour limit.
• The measure aims to address short-term supply chain disruptions and rising fuel costs.
• The average diesel price in the U.S. has reached a record $6.29 a gallon.
• Motor carriers with conditional safety ratings are excluded from the waiver.

The U.S. Transportation Department has temporarily relaxed rules on hours of service for truck drivers transporting gasoline and diesel, a move aimed at alleviating supply chain disruptions and mitigating rising fuel costs. The 90-day waiver, effective immediately, permits drivers to operate for up to 16 hours within a 24-hour period, an increase from the standard 14-hour limit, provided they take required rest breaks.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the waiver is a response to potential delays in gasoline and diesel shipments due to short-term supply chain issues. This action comes as the average U.S. diesel price has hit a record $6.29 per gallon, significantly up from $3.74 a year ago, influenced by global supply constraints including the war in Ukraine and attacks on Russian refineries. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration anticipates this flexibility will help manage anticipated increases in fuel demand during the late summer and fall, and cushion the impact on costs for transport providers, agriculture, and the public.

Global diesel supplies are expected to remain constrained due to limited spare refining capacity, Russia's export ban, and the approaching peak winter demand season. However, the waiver excludes motor carriers with conditional safety ratings, and drivers requiring immediate rest are still mandated to take 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Similar waivers have been issued in the past for natural disasters and emergencies, including a March 2020 order for drivers transporting COVID-19 relief supplies.