FMCSA дозволила до 16 годин driving time для fuel haulers до 16 грудня
FMCSA Allows Up to 16 Hours of Driving for Fuel Haulers Through December 16
FMCSA надала nationwide HOS waiver для interstate перевезень gasoline і diesel fuel з 16 вересня до 16 грудня 2026 року. Covered driver може керувати до 16 годин у будь-якому 24-hour period, але лише за всіх умов waiver; CDL, endorsements, ELD records, hazmat та інші safety rules залишаються чинними.
18 вересня 2026 · CDL UA News DeskКонтекст для owner-operators: актуальні diesel prices, EIA forecast і cost-per-mile →
Що саме змінила FMCSA
FMCSA видала nonemergency, nationwide waiver для motor carriers і drivers, які перевозять gasoline або diesel fuel у interstate commerce. Він діє з 12:00 a.m. 16 вересня до 11:59 p.m. 16 грудня 2026 року. Agency пояснила рішення global supply disruptions, очікуваним сезонним попитом і потребою підтримати fuel availability для transportation, agricultural harvesting та traveling public. Це temporary relief, а не постійна зміна HOS rules.
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 gasoline або diesel 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 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 qualifying fuel load, interstate operation, valid work authorization, CDL class, tanker і hazmat endorsements за потреби та повне виконання conditions. Перед dispatch попросіть safety department письмово підтвердити, що рейс covered; завантажте official waiver; перевірте ELD setup і duty-status notation; збережіть bills of lading; та не погоджуйтеся використовувати relief для іншого cargo або лише тому, що fuel ціни високі.
Інформаційне застереження
Матеріал узагальнює official FMCSA waiver, DOT announcement і related reporting, доступні станом на 18 вересня 2026 року. Він не є юридичною, immigration, employment, hazmat або індивідуальною HOS/compliance-консультацією. FMCSA може revoke waiver повністю або для конкретного carrier чи driver; перед кожним рейсом перевіряйте current document, cargo, route, endorsements, carrier safety status та state requirements.
What FMCSA changed
FMCSA issued a nonemergency, nationwide waiver for motor carriers and drivers transporting gasoline or diesel fuel in interstate commerce. It runs from 12:00 a.m. on September 16 through 11:59 p.m. on December 16, 2026. The agency cited global supply disruptions, anticipated seasonal demand and the need to support fuel availability for transportation, agricultural harvesting and the traveling public. This is temporary relief, not a permanent change to the hours-of-service rules.
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 gasoline or diesel 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 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 a qualifying fuel load, 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 in writing that the trip is covered; download the official waiver; verify the ELD setup and duty-status notation; retain bills of lading; and do not use the relief for other cargo or merely because fuel prices are high.
Informational disclaimer
This article summarizes the official FMCSA waiver, DOT announcement and related reporting available as of September 18, 2026. 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, route, endorsements, carrier safety status and state requirements.
FMCSA — Hours of Service Waiver for the Transportation of Gasoline and Diesel Fuel ↗
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 ↗