State of Tennessee 

State of Emergency Declaration to Provide Regulatory Relief Due to
Winter Weather in Tennessee

2025-01

     In accordance with the authority delegated to me to activate the Tennessee Emergency Management Plan and the authority granted to me by Governor Bill Lee, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated§ 58-2-107(b)(l)(A), (b)(l)(B), and (k), to declare a state of emergency due to severe winter weather that is expected to increase demand of certain fuels, cause delivery delays of feed, poultry, and livestock, and which may generally endanger livestock and poultry across the State, all of which adversely affect the health, welfare, and economy of Tennessee, I, Patrick C. Sheehan, Director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, do hereby declare a state of emergency throughout the State of Tennessee due to a minor disaster. This state of emergency provides for the following relief:

1. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 390.23 as adopted by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06- 01-.08, there is hereby provided a temporary exception from the federal rules and regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 395 limiting the hours of service for the operator of a commercial motor vehicle providing fuels, including fuel oil, diesel oil, gasoline, kerosene, propane, liquid petroleum, and other refined petroleum products and heating fuels, or the operator of a commercial motor vehicle transporting feed for the livestock or poultry industries, or transportation of animals in those industries, subject to the- following conditions:

1. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed as an exemption from the Commercial Driver's License requirements in 49 C.F.R. § 383, the financial requirements in 49 C.F.R. § 387, or applicable federal size and weight limitations.

2. No motor carrier operating under the terms of this Declaration shall require or allow an ill or fatigued driver to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who notifies a motor carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten (10) consecutive hours off-duty before the driver is required to return to service.

     The hours-of-service exemption authorized in this Declaration shall be effective at noon CST on January 9, 2025, and remain in effect for fourteen (14) days, terminating at 11:59 am CST on January 23, 2025, or during the emergency period, whichever is less.

Patrick C. Sheehan, Director