Lawmakers call for expedited HOS exemptions for faster emergency response

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has requested that the FMCSA expedite and anticipate its regulatory exemption process for Hours of Service (HOS).

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, led by Representatives Mike Bost and Mike Collins, has requested that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) expedite and anticipate its regulatory exemption process for Hours of Service (HOS) rules in order to enable a more effective response from the trucking industry to forecasted natural disasters and other emergencies.

In a letter sent on June 10 to FMCSA Executive Director Sue Lawless, the lawmakers urged the agency to adopt a new internal policy that would allow for the issuance of exemptions proactively, at least five days before a foreseeable emergency. The goal is to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies and support evacuation efforts, restoration of services, and fuel resupply in a more agile and consistent manner.

How can the exemption process for Hours of Service (HOS) rules be streamlined?

In the letter, the 30 signing lawmakers stated that for HOS relief to be more effective, the FMCSA must adopt a “preventative and proactive approach consistent with the statute and its legislative intent.” The lawmakers proposed the following:

Develop internal guidelines that allow federal emergencies to be declared in advance and trigger automatic exemptions ahead of predictable disasters.
Implement a policy for automatic regional exemptions to ensure a uniform federal response and avoid confusion caused by differing state regulations.

The lawmakers warned that current state-level exemptions often result in delays and complications, especially for carriers operating across multiple jurisdictions. A more uniform federal approach would improve preparedness for events such as winter storms, hurricanes, or supply chain disruptions.

“I grew up in a family trucking business; I know that federal red tape and delays often make it harder for truckers to do their jobs,” said Representative Mike Bost of Illinois. “This commonsense policy change will help keep families safe and support faster recovery during severe weather.”

Representative Mike Collins of Georgia emphasized the importance of having fuel stations stocked during critical times: “I’m proud to join my colleagues in improving disaster response and getting government bureaucracy out of the way of commonsense solutions.”

The initiative aims to strengthen the trucking industry’s ability to respond to national emergencies, ensuring that supplies reach those who need them most in a timely manner.