No Extra Driving Time for Hurricane Helene Cleanup Crews
Published Date: 12/9/2025
Notice
Summary
Northern Clearing, Inc. asked for special permission to let their drivers work longer hours while helping clean up after Hurricane Helene. The government said no because it wouldn’t keep drivers and the public as safe as current rules do. So, drivers must stick to the usual driving time limits, keeping everyone safer without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Drivers must follow standard HOS limits
Northern Clearing, Inc.'s request to let its property-carrying commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers exceed hours-of-service (HOS) limits was denied. Drivers must follow the HOS limits in 49 CFR 395.3: 10 consecutive hours off duty, a maximum of 11 hours driving in a 14-hour on-duty window, a required 30‑minute break after 8 hours of driving, and 60/70‑hour on‑duty limits over 7/8 consecutive days.
Emergency relief expired; long-term recovery must comply
FMCSA issued an Emergency Declaration covering Hurricane Helene response from October 4, 2024 to October 27, 2024, and that emergency relief had expired for all affected areas by December 26, 2024. After the declaration expired, motor carriers engaged in long-term recovery and reconstruction are expected to comply with the standard HOS rules described in 49 CFR 395.3.
Utility vehicles retain statutory HOS relief; others not treated same
The notice reiterates that utility service vehicles (as defined in 49 CFR 395.2 and noted in 49 U.S.C. 31136) receive statutory relief from HOS rules. Northern Clearing did not demonstrate it operates equivalently to utility service vehicles, so it was denied exemption from HOS limits.
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