Fertilizer delivery waiver approved for drivers

Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 12:23 PM

By Steve Anderson

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Transportation have announced the temporary waiving of the hours-of-service rules for fertilizer deliveries to help get supplies to local, regional and national farmers faster.

Federal regulations limit the hours of service a delivery driver may operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting property in interstate commerce. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, upon request from the fertilizer industry, issued the waiver this week loosening driving time restrictions for haulers carrying straight or blended fertilizer products in 35 states, including here in Illinois.

Under the waiver, fertilizer haulers could drive 16 hours within a 24-hour period but must take at least one six-hour break in a sleeper berth in that 24-hour time frame, or one eight-hour break if they do not have a sleeper berth. Normally, truckers are not allowed to begin a driving shift until they have spent 10 consecutive hours off duty, and they must rest again after 14 consecutive hours of driving.

The waiver will be in effect until Wednesday, August 26th of 2026.