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FMCSA rejects two requests for exemptions to hours-of-service rules for commercial drivers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has denied two exemption requests related to Hours of Service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers, as announced in the Federal Register on December 2.
The petitions, submitted by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and by Protein Transport, sought temporary flexibility from federal operating limits.
NPGA: winter exemption for propane transport
In July, the NPGA requested a seasonal exemption that would apply each year from December 15 to March 15. The proposal sought to extend daily driving and on-duty limits to allow up to 12 hours of driving and 15 hours on duty, eliminate weekly limits, and reduce the mandatory restart period from 34 to 24 hours.
The association argued that last winter’s extreme temperatures and high supply demand caused many drivers to reach weekly limits in only four days.
The FMCSA received 31 comments: 22 in favor, eight opposed, and one requesting an extended comment period. Among the opponents was the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which described the request as a “blanket exemption” that would endanger roadway safety. The group stressed that the existing emergency exemptions are sufficient to address critical winter conditions.
The FMCSA agreed with OOIDA, noting that current emergency mechanisms provide necessary flexibility without compromising safety. The agency also pointed out that it had rejected a similar NPGA request in 2023.
Protein Transport: exemption for chicken transport
The second request came from Protein Transport, an Indiana-based company that also sought an exemption in July to operate under an agricultural provision granting regulatory flexibility within a 150-air-mile radius. The company argued that avian flu and supply-chain issues had made it difficult to hire and retain enough drivers.
The company claimed safety would not be compromised, committing to inspect its units every 10,000 miles, change oil every 15,000 miles, and allow drivers to stop whenever necessary. However, the FMCSA received only three public comments—and all were opposed.
The Truck Safety Coalition criticized the request for “lacking a single measure to combat driver fatigue.” Ultimately, the FMCSA determined that chicken transport does not meet the criteria for an agricultural exemption and that the company failed to demonstrate how it would ensure safety under relaxed regulations, according to LandLine.
With both denials, the FMCSA reaffirms its stance that existing HOS rules remain a fundamental tool for preventing fatigue and protecting roadway safety, allowing exceptions only under clearly justified emergency circumstances.
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