FMCSA opens comment on two hours-of-service exemption requests; nothing changes yet
On June 30, 2026, FMCSA published two Federal Register notices asking for public comment on hours-of-service exemption applications. These are requests, not rules — no HOS limit has changed for anyone, and FMCSA says it will evaluate the applications, safety analyses and public comments before granting or denying either one.
The first comes from Lone Star Haz Mat Response, LLC (docket FMCSA-2026-1521). The company wants its "field response" drivers allowed to "exceed the hours of service (HOS) requirements for the purpose of returning to their normal work reporting location or residence following hazardous materials incident response operations."
The second is from Mainline Services, LLC (docket FMCSA-2026-1717), which is asking for relief for employees who transport equipment used to clear derailed or disabled trains or debris blocking tracks, when responding to unplanned events outside normal work hours that affect interstate commerce or railway safety.
Comments on both dockets close July 30, 2026. Exemptions of this kind, when granted, apply only to the applicant and the specific operations described — they are not industry-wide waivers.
What this means for your operation
For most 1-10 truck carriers hauling general freight, there is nothing to do here — your HOS limits are unchanged. If you run hazmat response, rail-support or other emergency-callout work and the same problem applies to you, the comment period is the moment to say so on the docket, because a granted exemption covers only the named applicant. Either way, the takeaway is the process: HOS relief for unusual operations comes through a formal application and a public comment window, not a phone call to enforcement. WeLink's compliance team watches these dockets so the carriers we support hear about a change before it shows up at a roadside inspection.
Source: FMCSA
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