FMCSA Extends Texas Flood-Relief Hours-of-Service Relief Through August 11

FMCSA has extended limited federal hours-of-service relief for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to communities affected by widespread heavy rainfall and flooding in Texas. The extension took effect July 29 and remains available until the emergency ends or 11:59 p.m. ET on August 11, 2026, whichever occurs first.

The relief applies to property-carrying operations delivering direct emergency support, including transportation of food, fuel and water into affected counties. It covers the maximum driving-time requirements in 49 CFR 395.3 and can apply regardless of where a qualifying trip begins. Routine commercial deliveries, long-term reconstruction work and mixed loads carrying only a nominal amount of relief cargo do not qualify.

This is not a blanket suspension of trucking rules. FMCSA specifically states that CDL requirements, drug-and-alcohol testing, insurance, hazardous-material rules, vehicle size and weight limits, and other regulations not expressly identified remain in effect. Drivers or carriers under an out-of-service order are not eligible until the order has been properly rescinded.

Relief ends when the truck returns to ordinary commerce or is dispatched elsewhere for non-emergency work. A property-carrying driver moving back to normal operations must take a 10-hour break when combined emergency and regular duty reaches or exceeds 14 hours. Carriers should document the qualifying load, destination and connection to the Texas response, monitor FMCSA for changes, and never dispatch a fatigued driver simply because temporary relief is available.