VERMONT   

                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Law Enforcement Bulletin
Relief from 49 CFR 395.3 Hours of
                                          Service

                                            Agency of Transportation
vtrans.vermont.gov
dmv.vermont.gov

State of Vermont
Department of Motor Vehicles                                                                                                                                           
Enforcement & Safety Division                                                                                                                                                  
120 State Street                                               
Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

[phone] 802-828-2067
[fax]       802-828-2092
[ttd]       802-828-0191
DMV-Enforcement@vermont.gov

2025-12

December 15, 2025

Declaration of Emergency Notice

Relief from Title 49 CFR 395.3 for Motor Carriers providing delivery of propane
and heating oil to residences and businesses

Pursuant to the authority vested as Designee by Vermont Governor Philip Scott, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Andrew Collier has declared that an emergency exists caused by a shortage of residential and business heating fuel.

Pursuant to 49 CFR § 390.23, motor carriers providing delivery of propane and home heating oil to homes and businesses in Vermont are granted emergency relief from 49 CFR § 395.3 (maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles) as set forth in this Emergency Notice and guidance issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles (OMV).

1.  This relief for motor carriers is effective as of December 15, 2025, and will expire on January 15th, 2026 at midnight.

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

3.  Motor carriers that have an Out of Service Order in effect or are under a State of Vermont suspension cannot take advantage of this relief from the regulations that this declaration provides under Title 49 CFR 390.23

4.  Nothing contained in this declaration shall be construed as an exemption from Commercial Driver's License requirements, Controlled Substance and Alcohol Use and Testing requirements, Financial Responsibility requirements, Size and Weight requirements, or any other portion of regulations not specifically identified.

5.  Drivers for motor carriers that operate under this Declaration of Emergency Notice must have a copy (paper or electronic) in their possession.

6.  This Declaration of Emergency Notice will remain in effect until January 15th, 2026, at midnight.

7.  Drivers who utilize this exemption may come back into compliance and restart their hours-of-service clock after taking 34 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of their extended hours period.

December 15, 2025

Signed:
 

Andrew Collier, Commissioner 
Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
Designee of the Governor of Vermont Philip Scott