FMCSA розширила HOS waiver на ethanol і визначені heating-oil loads
FMCSA Expands Fuel-Hauler HOS Waiver to Ethanol and Certain Heating-Oil Loads
Amended nationwide waiver тепер охоплює interstate перевезення gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol і denatured ethanol, а також heating oil у визначених compartmentalized loads. Строк до 16 грудня та 16-hour driving cap не змінилися; propane і jet fuel не включені.
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Що змінило amended waiver
15 жовтня FMCSA видала amended version nationwide nonemergency waiver, який діє з 12:00 a.m. 16 вересня до 11:59 p.m. 16 грудня 2026 року. До gasoline і diesel fuel agency прямо додала ethanol та denatured ethanol. FMCSA також дозволила визначені loads із heating oil. Це розширення product coverage; expiration date, 16-hour cap та інші safety conditions не продовжено й не послаблено.
Які products і loads тепер охоплено
Relief доступне для qualifying interstate transportation gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol або denatured ethanol. Heating oil covered лише як частина compartmentalized load разом із щонайменше одним із цих чотирьох products, і його volume під час loading не може перевищувати 75% total shipment. Propane та jet fuel у amended waiver не перелічені. Load не стає covered лише тому, що його customer працює в agriculture або energy sector.
16-hour limit і обов’язковий rest
Covered driver не може керувати понад 16 годин у будь-якому 24-hour period. Цей cap застосовується навіть тоді, коли одночасно могла б діяти інша exception, waiver або emergency declaration. У кожному 24-hour period водій повинен мати щонайменше 6 consecutive hours у sleeper berth; якщо sleeper berth немає — щонайменше 8 consecutive hours off duty. Waiver не означає безперервні 16 годин driving і не дозволяє ігнорувати fatigue.
Хто може використовувати waiver
Driver має виконувати саме qualifying interstate transportation covered fuel, мати valid CDL потрібного class та всі required endorsements і не бути subject to out-of-service order, disqualification або loss of driving privileges. У cab потрібно мати physical або digital copy amended waiver та показати її law enforcement на вимогу. Carrier із conditional safety rating, а також carrier чи driver під active out-of-service order, не мають права використовувати relief.
Які правила waiver не скасовує
FMCSA waived only the HOS limits in 49 CFR 395.3 для covered operations. CDL і medical requirements, drug and alcohol testing, insurance, Hazardous Materials Regulations, size and weight limits, route designations та applicable state rules залишаються чинними. Waiver також не скасовує 49 CFR 395.8, тому required records of duty status та ELD obligations продовжують діяти. Intrastate trip не стає covered автоматично; штат може окремо прийняти таку саму policy.
Empty return, перехід до normal operations і fatigue
Relief охоплює empty return до carrier terminal або normal work-reporting location. Якщо driver повідомляє, що потребує негайного rest, carrier повинен дозволити знайти suitable safe location і надати щонайменше 10 consecutive hours off duty до наступного driving. Під час переходу до normal operations така сама 10-hour break потрібна, якщо час у waiver operations або разом із normal operations дорівнює чи перевищує 14 годин. Carrier також має повідомити FMCSA про qualifying crash протягом двох business days.
Практичні наслідки для українських водіїв
Ukrainian citizenship, U4U parole, TPS, visa або EAD самі по собі не дають і не забирають access до waiver. Вирішальними є exact fuel products і proportions, interstate operation, valid work authorization, CDL class, tanker і hazmat endorsements за потреби та повне виконання conditions. Перед dispatch попросіть safety department письмово підтвердити coverage; завантажте amended waiver; перевірте bill of lading, compartment quantities, ELD setup і duty-status notation. Не використовуйте relief для propane, jet fuel, іншого cargo або nonqualifying heating-oil load.
Інформаційне застереження
Матеріал оновлено 21 жовтня 2026 року за official amended waiver FMCSA від 15 жовтня та related industry reporting. Він не є legal, immigration, employment, hazmat або individualized HOS/compliance advice. FMCSA може revoke waiver повністю або для конкретного carrier чи driver; перед кожним рейсом перевіряйте current document, cargo composition, route, endorsements, carrier safety status та applicable state rules.
What the amended waiver changed
On October 15, FMCSA issued an amended version of the nationwide nonemergency waiver, effective from 12:00 a.m. September 16 through 11:59 p.m. December 16, 2026. The agency expressly added ethanol and denatured ethanol to gasoline and diesel fuel. FMCSA also allowed specified loads containing heating oil. This expands product coverage; the expiration date, 16-hour cap and other safety conditions were not extended or relaxed.
Which products and loads are now covered
The relief applies to qualifying interstate transportation of gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol or denatured ethanol. Heating oil is covered only as part of a compartmentalized load with at least one of those four products, and its volume at loading may not exceed 75% of the total shipment. Propane and jet fuel are not listed in the amended waiver. A load does not become covered merely because the customer operates in agriculture or the energy sector.
The 16-hour limit and required rest
A covered driver may not drive more than 16 hours in any 24-hour period. This cap applies even when another exception, waiver or emergency declaration might also apply. In each 24-hour period, the driver must receive at least six consecutive hours in a sleeper berth or, if no sleeper berth is available, at least eight consecutive hours off duty. The waiver does not authorize 16 uninterrupted hours of driving or permit fatigue to be ignored.
Who may use the waiver
The driver must be engaged in qualifying interstate transportation of a covered fuel, hold a valid CDL of the proper class with every required endorsement, and not be subject to an out-of-service order, disqualification or loss of driving privileges. A physical or digital copy of the amended waiver must be carried and shown to law enforcement on request. A carrier with a conditional safety rating, and any carrier or driver under an active out-of-service order, is not eligible for the relief.
Rules the waiver does not suspend
FMCSA waived only the limits in 49 CFR 395.3 for covered operations. CDL and medical requirements, drug and alcohol testing, insurance, the Hazardous Materials Regulations, size and weight limits, route designations and applicable state rules remain in force. The waiver also does not suspend 49 CFR 395.8, so required records of duty status and ELD obligations continue. An intrastate trip is not covered automatically; a state may separately adopt the same policy.
Empty return, transition to normal operations and fatigue
The relief covers an empty return to the carrier terminal or the driver’s normal work-reporting location. If the driver says immediate rest is needed, the carrier must permit the driver to find a suitable safe location and provide at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving again. When transitioning to normal operations, the same 10-hour break is required if time in waiver operations, or combined waiver and normal operations, equals or exceeds 14 hours. The carrier also must notify FMCSA of a qualifying crash within two business days.
Practical implications for Ukrainian drivers
Ukrainian citizenship, Uniting for Ukraine parole, TPS, a visa or an EAD does not by itself grant or remove access to the waiver. The controlling factors are the exact fuel products and proportions, interstate operation, valid work authorization, the proper CDL class, tanker and hazardous-materials endorsements when required, and compliance with every condition. Before dispatch, ask the safety department to confirm coverage in writing; download the amended waiver; and verify the bill of lading, compartment quantities, ELD setup and duty-status notation. Do not use the relief for propane, jet fuel, other cargo or a nonqualifying heating-oil load.
Informational disclaimer
This article was updated October 21, 2026, using FMCSA’s official amended waiver dated October 15 and related industry reporting. It is not legal, immigration, employment, hazardous-materials or individualized HOS/compliance advice. FMCSA may revoke the waiver in full or for a specific carrier or driver; before every trip, verify the current document, cargo composition, route, endorsements, carrier safety status and applicable state rules.
FMCSA — Amended Hours of Service Waiver, issued October 15, 2026 ↗
Pennsylvania Petroleum Association — industry explanation of the amended product coverage ↗
U.S. Department of Transportation — September 16 announcement ↗
eCFR — 49 CFR 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles ↗
Land Line — September 17 trucking-industry report ↗
Reuters — September 17 report on the temporary fuel-hauler waiver ↗