Trucking Laws · Nationwide · October 24, 2026

FMCSA Lets Railroad Truck Drivers Stretch the 14-Hour Rule to 17

A work truck parked on a gravel road beside a railroad main line with a freight train in the distance at sunrise — Illustration for this story. Not a photo of a specific location.

Truck drivers who work for railroads will be able to go past the usual hours-of-service limits when a main track needs emergency work. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted a five-year exemption requested by railroad groups, Land Line reported Oct. 23.

Who asked and who is covered

The request came from the Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, according to Land Line. The exemption is limited to drivers employed by 231 member railroads, which are listed in an appendix to FMCSA's notice.

It applies only to "unplanned events" that happen outside of, or run past, normal work hours. Eligible events are limited to incidents affecting the main track.

What the exemption allows

Federal rules normally bar drivers from driving after the 14th hour of a work shift, or after 60 hours on duty in seven days or 70 hours in eight days. Under the exemption, according to Land Line, covered drivers:

May extend the 14-hour rule to no more than 17 hours.
May not drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
May extend the 60-hour and 70-hour limits by no more than six hours.
May not travel more than 300 air miles from their normal work reporting location or terminal.

Why FMCSA agreed

"The agency has analyzed the exemption renewal application and believes there is a public interest in ensuring that railroads clear blocked tracks and rights-of-way and restore service as quickly as possible," FMCSA wrote in its notice, as quoted by Land Line. The agency added that it "does not believe the requested relief would compromise safety when used occasionally to respond to unplanned events."

Strings attached

Motor carriers must keep a record of each time the exemption is used, along with the driver's records of duty status, supporting documents and a description of the event, Land Line reports. Those records must be provided to FMCSA on request.

For a refresher on how the regular limits work, see the Big Rig Daily guide to ELD and hours of service rules, or plan a shift with the free hours of service calculator.