Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits
Emergency Declarations ClarifiedHOS exemption under State or FMCSA emergency declaration extends to interstate transportation – if providing direct assistance |
Overview
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is coordinating with the following states that have Declared Emergency Declarations. We recommend you check each State's Web site and search for "Issued Emergency Declarations" if you are interested in more details. For those carriers or drivers interested in providing services or who need to understand FMCSA regulations, the following applies.
Category
- Declarations by FMCSA
- Federal Emergency Declarations by FMCSA Service Centers
- Federal Notice of Enforcement Discretion Determination
- Canadian Emergency Declarations
- State Emergency Declarations by State
- Emergency Declaration Information
Federal Emergency Declarations by FMCSA
Description: MSC-ESC-SSC - Extension of Regional Emergency Declaration No. 2025-001
State: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, KANSAS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN
Effective: 02142025 | Expires on: 02282025; In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.23, this extension of Emergency Declaration No. 2025-001 is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), February 28, 2025, whichever is earlier. FMCSA intends to continually review the status of Emergency Declaration No. 2025-001 and the relief granted herein. As necessary, FMCSA may take action to modify the Emergency Declaration, including modification of the transportations and commodities covered by the Emergency Declaration, extend, or terminate the Emergency Declaration if conditions warrant.
Description: Regional Emergency Declaration and Extension and Expansion of Emergency Declarations Pursuant to 49 CFR §§ 390.23 and 390.25 No. 2025-003 - HPAI Impacted Areas
Effective: 02082025 | Expires on: 03102025; In accordance with 49 CFR §§ 390.23 and 390.25, this Declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), March 10, 2025, whichever is earlier. FMCSA intends to continually review the status of this Declaration and the relief granted herein. As necessary, FMCSA may take action to modify this Declaration, including modification of the transportations and commodities covered by the Declaration, and extend, or terminate the Declaration if conditions warrant.
Description: WSC - Emergency Declaration - Wildfires- No. 2025-004 EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION PURSUANT TO 49 CFR § 390.25 - No. 2025-004
State: CALIFORNIA
Effective: 02072025 | Expires on: 03102025; In accordance with 49 CFR §§ 390.23 and 390.25, this Declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), March 10, 2025, whichever is earlier. FMCSA intends to continually review the status of this Declaration and the relief granted herein. As necessary, FMCSA may take action to modify this Declaration, including modification of the transportations and commodities covered by the Declaration, and extend, or terminate the Declaration if conditions warrant.
Description: WSC-MSC-SSC-ESC - Amendment of Extension and Modification Regional Emergency Declaration No. 2025-001
State: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, MONTANA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA,
WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING
Effective: 01/29/2025 | Expires on: 02/15/2025; In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.23, this extension and modification of Emergency Declaration No. 2025-001 is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), February 15, 2025, whichever is earlier. FMCSA intends to continually review the status of Emergency Declaration No. 2025-001 and the relief granted herein. As necessary, FMCSA may take action to modify the Emergency Declaration, including modification of the transportations and commodities covered by the Emergency Declaration, extend, or terminate the Emergency Declaration if conditions warrant.
Description: EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION UNDER 49 CFR § 390.25 No. 2025-002 : : WEST VIRGINIA
Effective: 01/20/2025 | Expires on: 01/31/2025; In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.23, this Emergency Declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), January 31, 2025, whichever is earlier. FMCSA intends to continually review the status of this Emergency Declaration and the relief granted herein. As necessary, FMCSA may take action to modify the Emergency Declaration, including modification of the transportations and commodities covered by the Emergency Declaration, extend, or terminate the Emergency Declaration if conditions warrant.
Federal Notice of Enforcement Discretion Determination
Canadian Emergency Declarations
There are no active Emergency Declarations at this time.
State Emergency Declarations by State
Alabama
Description: Alabama 2025-01-20-SOE-Winter-Weather
Effective: 01/20/2025| Expires on: TBD; FURTHER, I declare that this proclamation, and all subsequent orders, laws, rules, or regulations issued pursuant hereto, shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of this state of emergency, unless rescinded or extended by proclamation.
California
Description: California SOE Palisades Fire 1.7.2025
Effective: 01/07/2025| Expires on: TBD
Florida
Description: Florida Executive Order Number 25-13
Effective: 01/20/2025| Expires on: 02/03/2025
Georgia
Description: GEORGIA STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR WINTER WEATHER 01.20.25
Effective: 01/20/2025| Expires on: 01/28/2025; All provisions of the Order shall become effective upon signature and shall be valid for a period of eight (8) days, expiring Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at11:59 P.M., unless this State of Emergency is renewed by the Governor.
Iowa
Description: Iowa Propane Proclamation of Disaster Emergency 2025.1.7
Effective: 01/07/2025| Expires on: 01/21/2025
Kansas
Description: Kansas Temporary Waiver for Direct Assistance and Heating Fuel
Effective: 02/10/2025| Expires on: 02/24/2025
Description: Kansas State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation
Effective: 02/09/2025| Expires on: 03/09/2025
Louisiana
Description: Louisiana Emergency Declaration 1.20.2025
Effective: 01/20/2025| Expires on: 2/2/2025; Consistent with Title 49, CFR, Part 390.23, the emergency declaration will take effect at 12:01 a.m., January 20, 2025, and will remain in effect for the duration of the emergency (as defined in Title 49, CFR, Part 390.5), ending at 11:59 p.m., February 2, 2025, whichever is less.
Maine
Description: State of Maine Energy Emergency
Effective: 01/10/2025| Expires on: 01/24/2025
Massachusetts
Description: Massachusetts Hours of Service Waiver (Jan 2025)
Effective: 01/12/2025| Expires on: 01/24/2025
Mississippi
Description: MISSISSIPPI EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 1585
Effective: 01/09/2025| Expires on: 1/24/2025
Description: Mississippi Executive Order 1586 - Service Hours Waiver 1-18-25
Effective: 01/18/2025| Expires on: 02/02/2025
Nebraska
Description: Nebraska Executive Order 25-02 Residential Heating Fuels 2-14-25
Effective: 02/14/2025| Expires on: 03/16/2025; This emergency relief is effective immediately and shall remain in effect for 30 days.
New Hampshire
Description: New Hampshire Declaration of Emergency Notice Title 49 CFR 390.23
Effective: 01/07/2025| Expires on: 01/21/2025, Consistent with Title 49 CFR Part 390.23, the Emergency Declaration will remain in effect through January 21, 2025 at midnight.
New Jersey
Description: New Jersey Executive Order No. 378
Effective: 01/18/2025| Expires on: 02/02/2025
New York
Description: New Jersey Executive Order No. 378
Effective: 01/20/2025| Expires on: 02/03/2025
North Carolina
Description: North Carolina Executive Order No.6
Effective: 01/07/2025| Expires on: 01/21/2025
South Carolina
Description: South Carolina Executive Order No. 2025-02 - Declaring State of Emergency to Address Winter Weather
Effective: 01/10/2025| Expires on: 01/24/2025; This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect for a period of fifteen (15) days unless otherwise expressly stated herein or modified, amended, or rescinded by subsequent Order. Further proclamations, orders, and directives deemed necessary to ensure the fullest possible protection of life and property during this State of Emergency shall be issued orally by the undersigned and thereafter reduced to writing and published for dissemination within the succeeding 24-hour period.
Tennessee
Description: 2025-01 Emergency Declaration to Provide Regulatory Relief - Winter Weather
Effective: 01/19/2025| Expires on: 01/23/2025
Vermont
Description: Vermont HOS Waiver 1.7.2025
Effective: 01/07/2025 | Expires on: 01/21/2025
Virginia
Description: VA Winter Weather FMCSA Waiver 02-10-25 to 02-25-25
Effective: 02/10/2025 | Expires on: 02/25/2025
West Virginia
Description: West Virginia State of Emergency 1.5.2025
Effective: 01/05/2025| Expires on: This exemption will take effect immediately and will remain in effect for the duration of the emergency as defined in Title 49, CFR, Part 390.5, or ending at 11:59 p.m. on February 5, 2025, whichever is less.
Wisconsin
Description: Wisconsin Executive Order 253
Effective: 01/08/2025| Expires on: 02/07/2025
Emergency Declaration Information
To provide vital supplies and transportation services to a disaster area in the United States, emergency declarations may be issued by the President, Governors of States, or FMCSA. These declarations trigger the temporary suspension of certain Federal safety regulations, including Hours of Service, for motor carriers and drivers engaged in specific aspects of the emergency relief effort. See 49 CFR 390.23 for the actual emergency regulation.
Relief from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations is limited to a maximum of 30 days, unless extended by FMCSA itself.
The information below reflects currently available relief:
- Drivers responding to provide "direct assistance" to an "emergency" meeting the definitions in 49 CFR 390.5 and declared by FMCSA or a governor, are exempt from applicable regulations in all States on their route to the emergency, even though those States may not be involved in the emergency or stated in the declaration of emergency.
- These exemptions, when in effect, only apply to 49 CFR Parts 390-399. They do NOT exempt drivers/carriers from the requirements relating to CDL, drug/alcohol, hazardous materials, size & weight, or State/Federal registration and tax requirements. (However, a Governor's Declaration may add some of those exemptions - read the declaration for details.)
- Even if an Emergency Declaration is still in effect, the emergency must be on-going and you must be providing direct emergency assistance in order to be exempt from safety regulations.
- The list of Emergency Declarations below may not be complete. Declarations may be in effect even if not listed here. Read the declaration itself for all details.
- There is no requirement to carry a copy of the declaration in the vehicle unless stated so in the declaration itself.
- Drivers and carriers should coordinate with State emergency officials before providing assistance. State regulations regarding size and weight, permits, taxes, etc. may not have been waived.
- Even though safety regulations may be suspended, drivers and carriers are expected to use good judgment and not operate vehicles with fatigued or ill drivers, or under any conditions presenting a clear hazard to other motorists using the highways.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established a toll free hotline at 1-877-831-2250 for anyone seeking inquiries pertaining to FMCSA Regulations during a declared disaster.
- DOT Emergency Information
- Ready.gov: Plan, Prepare, and Stay Informed
- International Registration Plan, Inc - Notifications