Emergency efforts ongoing
The list of active emergency declarations continues to grow.
A winter storm in the Northeast, disruption at a Pennsylvania refinery and significant flooding in the Pacific Northwest are creating issues in numerous states.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration declared a regional emergency on Dec. 12, covering Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles is waived through Dec. 26 under this order.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire also enacted state emergencies related to fuel supply and transportation.
Those state declarations were specific to home heating oil and intrastate bulk propane transportation.
Land Line provides resource pages on travel conditions, chain laws and more.
New York, Ohio, Vermont and Missouri are the latest states to enact emergencies.
Motor carriers transporting propane throughout New York are granted hours-of-service through Saturday, Dec. 20.
Under the New York order:
- The 70-hour maximum on-duty period in eight days is modified to be 84 hours.
- The 60-hour maximum on-duty period in seven days is modified to be 74 hours.
- The 14-hour maximum workday is modified to be 16 hours. An 8-hour off-duty period must be taken to reset the 16-hour provision.
- The 34-hour restart provision is modified to be 24 hours. Carriers may utilize a 24-hour off-duty period that occurred prior to the date of this order.
- On-duty time for computation of the 60/70 or 14-hour rules will not include time spent waiting in a commercial motor vehicle while on the property of a shipper or carrier, loading point, unloading point, or terminal immediately after or preceding loading/unloading operations.
ICYMI: Snow impacted multiple parts of NY this weekend, including the first widespread, plowable snowfall on Long Island this winter. Our NYSDOT plows were out keeping roads clear and traffic moving safely. Here are a few standout photos from the @nysdotli crews in action. ❄️🚜 pic.twitter.com/1qPnNmcdaP
— NYSDOT (@NYSDOT) December 16, 2025
Ohio’s order, also addressing propane supply constraints, provides similar relief for intrastate operations.
Drivers must keep a written or electronic copy of the Ohio declaration to be eligible for relief. Vehicles will not be granted relief without a copy.
The waiver for motor carriers delivering propane and home heating oil to homes and businesses in Vermont is effective through Jan. 15.
A copy of the order must be carried by drivers operating under it.
Drivers utilizing the exemption may restart their hours-of-service clock after taking 34 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of their extended hours period.
Missouri officials cited a disruption in the residential heating fuel supply chain. Propane, natural gas and heating oil are the only petroleum products covered by the exemption.
Vehicles transporting these residential heating fuels are granted relief from the hours-of-service requirements through Jan. 2.
Washington state floods
“Go Now” evacuation orders have been issued in King County due to a levee breach on the White River. Additionally, a flash flood warning and immediate evacuation order were issued along the Green River.
Impacts are expected within the electricity, oil and natural gas, government facilities and transportation systems sectors, officials said.
Numerous state routes have been closed to traffic in the region.
A state of emergency was declared on Dec. 9, mobilizing up to 300 National Guard personnel and coordinating with FEMA.
Through Monday, Dec. 22, vehicles delivering livestock feed products and dairy farm products and supplies are granted hours of service relief in Washington state. LL
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