FMCSA Extends Oregon Wildfire HOS Relief Through July 13, 2026

On June 26, 2026, FMCSA issued Extension of Emergency Declaration No. 2026-005 (WSC – OR) in response to ongoing wildfire activity in Oregon. The declaration suspends the maximum driving time limits in 49 CFR § 395.3 (property-carrying vehicles) and 49 CFR § 395.5 (passenger-carrying vehicles) for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency. Relief is effective from June 26, 2026, and expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 13, 2026, or when the emergency ends—whichever is earlier. FMCSA has stated it will continually review the declaration and may extend, modify, or terminate it as conditions warrant.

Per 49 CFR § 390.23, "direct assistance" means transportation and other relief services provided to support the emergency. It does not cover routine commercial deliveries, mixed loads where relief commodities are only nominally included, or long-term infrastructure recovery after the immediate threat has passed. Once a driver concludes direct assistance and returns to normal operations, standard HOS rules immediately apply—except that an empty return to the carrier's terminal is permitted without full HOS compliance.

Ohio-based motor carriers or owner-operators dispatching drivers to Oregon to support wildfire response—hauling equipment, fuel, water, or other qualifying emergency relief commodities—may operate under suspended HOS limits while providing direct assistance in the affected area. Carriers must document that each load and movement qualifies as direct assistance; the waiver does not apply to freight that merely passes through Oregon.

Carriers should note that FMCSA may extend this declaration beyond July 13 if wildfire conditions persist, as it has done in prior years. Check fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations before and during any dispatch to Oregon. If your USDOT number or operating authority is not current, no emergency waiver removes the requirement to be properly registered—contact Asal Business Solutions to ensure your registration and MCS-150 are up to date before you roll.