Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025:
- Another state waives HOS regs for heating fuel haulers.
- Trucking's top military veteran rookie driver now the owner of a new Kenworth.
- Railroad emergency-support fleet seeking regulatory relief.
Vermont the latest state to declare heating fuel emergency
Joining five other Northeast-region states, Vermont issued an emergency declaration that waives an hours-of-service provision for truck drivers transporting heating fuel.
Vermont’s declaration follows a Regional Emergency Declaration from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and a separate emergency declared in New Hampshire.
Vermont’s emergency was declared due to a shortage of residential and business heating fuel, according to Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Andrew Collier. Under the terms, motor carriers and drivers delivering propane and home heating oil to homes and businesses in Vermont are granted emergency relief from 49 Code of Federal Regulations 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles, through Jan. 15.
Drivers who utilize the exemption can come back into compliance and restart their hours-of-service clock after taking 34 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of their extended hours period.
[Related: New HOS waivers in several states]
Roehl driver named nation’s top military veteran rookie driver
Roehl Transport driver Charles Jones Jr. was named the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award winner at a ceremony last week, where he received the keys to a brand-new Kenworth T680.Roehl Transport
Charles Jones Jr., a military veteran and Roehl Transport truck driver, has won the prestigious Transition Trucking: Driving to Excellence award, presented by the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes Program, Kenworth, and Fastport.
The awards ceremony was held in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Dec. 12. The annual award celebrates America’s top first-year trucking professional who is military veteran.
In his more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, Charles Jones Jr. completed three combat deployments to Iraq and two rotations to South Korea. A devoted husband to Katrina and father to Alvin and Monica, Jones graduated from Georgia Driving Academy one year ago this month. Shortly thereafter, he began his professional driving career with Roehl, where he quickly became known for reliability, humor, dedication, and strong leadership.
As the program’s 2025 winner, Jones was awarded a Kenworth T680, equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and a Paccar Powertrain featuring the Paccar MX-13 engine (455 horsepower), Paccar TX-12 automated transmission, and Paccar DX-40 tandem rear axles. The truck includes the latest advanced driver assistance system and premium interior amenities, providing a powerful foundation for Jones as he advances.
“Receiving this Kenworth truck is truly life-changing,” Jones said. “The military taught me discipline, resilience, and pride in every mission -- and those same values have carried me into my career. This award allows me to build a future I once only hoped was possible. I am deeply grateful to Roehl, to my instructors, and to every veteran who has supported me along the way.”
Runners-up in the 2025 contest, each receiving a $10,000 prize, were:
- Macy Mattice, U.S. Army, Melton Truck Lines
- Mark Scriven, U.S. Army, Stevens Transport
“It is an honor for Kenworth to once again present a T680 to a veteran who embodies the very best in service and professionalism,” said Sarah Abernethy, Kenworth’s director of marketing communications. “Charles exemplifies what this program celebrates: commitment, character, and the drive to build a successful career. We congratulate him and wish him great success as he begins this next chapter behind the wheel.”
[Related: Compete for Overdrive's Trucker of the Year honor]
Railroad emergency response fleet seeks HOS waiver
Hulcher Services Inc., a nationwide emergency response provider to the railroad industry, requested an exemption from the hours-of-service regulations when a driver is dispatched in response to a railroad’s request to assist in clearing disabled or derailed trains, debris, or hazards that block railroad rights-of-way.
The exemption would be the same as the one the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted to R.J. Corman and Cranemasters, which was renewed earlier this summer. That waiver allows their employees who operate under hours-of-service rules to respond to “unplanned events” that occur outside of or extend beyond the employee’s normal working hours.
Hulcher -- whose approximately 350 drivers transport heavy recovery equipment such as side-booms, grapple trucks, rollbacks, service trucks, and other units needed to restore normal rail operations following a derailment or related incident -- said it believes it performs the same essential services to the railroad industry and the public as R.J. Corman.
When unplanned emergencies occur, Hulcher said, “without the exemption drivers will not be able to transport equipment due to exceeding the 14-hour driving ‘window’ or 70-hour weekly limits, despite being the only qualified operators available.”
FMCSA will accept public comments on the request beginning Wednesday, Dec. 17, at www.regulations.gov by searching Docket No. FMCSA-2025-1018. The comment period will be open for 30 days.
[Related: Railroad-support carriers get full HOS exemption renewal]
