Trucking news and briefs for Friday, May 29, 2026:
- Big regulatory relief for fertilizer haulers across much of U.S.
- Grand opening set for Dolly Parton’s Tennessean Travel Stop.
- New mobile truck service launches in Southeast.
FMCSA waives HOS, ELD requirements for fertilizer haulers across 35 states
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is waiving certain hours-of-service regulations for drivers and motor carriers transporting straight or blended fertilizer in 35 states “to address an urgent fertilizer supply shortfall,” FMCSA said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a full-scale, all-of-government effort to strengthen the country’s fertilizer supply, including efforts to lower shipping costs and expand fertilizer production.
As part of this coordinated action and in response to a request from The Fertilizer Institute, FMCSA issued the waiver to provide needed relief from specified FMCSRs for motor carriers and drivers transporting fertilizer products for commercial farming and agricultural purposes.
FMCSA’s action waives the hours-of-service limitations in 49 CFR 395.3 (maximum driving time) and the requirement for drivers to use an ELD to record the driver’s duty status. The waiver does not apply to the transportation of hazardous materials.
It covers drivers hauling straight or blended fertilizer products in the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Under terms of the waiver, drivers are not permitted to drive more than 16 hours in any 24-hour period, even if the driver is operating under the 150 air-mile ag exemption. Drivers must also take a minimum of a six consecutive hour break in the sleeper berth in each 24-hour period. If there is no sleeper berth, the driver must take a minimum eight consecutive hour break in each 24-hour period.
Drivers who do not use an ELD must use paper records of duty status (RODS) and supporting documents, maintain RODS and supporting documents for six months from the date the record is prepared, and make RODS and supporting documents accessible to FMCSA and law enforcement upon request.
The waiver took effect May 26 is effective through Aug. 26.
[Related: No HOS violations, no ELD required: New trucking group seeks mandate exemption]
Dolly Parton’s first travel stop opening June 24
Truck drivers and motorists traveling along I-65 through Tennessee will soon see a longtime travel stop along the corridor rebranded, thanks to a new partnership with global superstar Dolly Parton.
Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop is officially set to welcome guests on June 24, introducing a travel experience built around the idea that every stop on the highway should feel a little more like home, the company said.
Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop is located at exit 22 off of I-65 in Cornersville, Tennessee, where the Tennessean Travel stop has been open since 1974.
The company said Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop “is built on the belief that every traveler deserves comfort, good food, and a genuine welcome.”
Guests can stop by to relax, shop custom merch, and eat, including barbecue offerings from DLY BBQ, a Dolly’s Cup of Ambition Coffee, and a full-service sit-down cafe and restaurant.
Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop will also feature an original mural commissioned as a tribute to Cornersville, Tennessee. A tour bus inspired by the one Dolly has traveled in for years will also be on-site.
The travel stop is the first of many planned locations for the brand, born from the partnership between Parton and her manager Danny Nozell, and Gregory H. Sachs, who has owned and operated the Tennessean Travel Stop brand since 2017.
The grand opening event on June 24 will be a large-scale celebration, and all are welcome to attend and experience the travel stop firsthand. Additional details on grand opening festivities will be revealed in the coming weeks.
[Related: Tennessean Travel Stop partners with Dolly Parton for rebrand, refresh]
Vanguard Truck Centers launching mobile truck service
Vanguard Truck Centers has announced the launch of Guardian Mobile Express, a new mobile truck service division.
The initiative is focused on helping customers reduce the need for shop visits and keeping vehicles operating where they are needed most, the company said.
Guardian Mobile Express will begin operations in Georgia in Savannah and Atlanta, with a dedicated express lane in Valdosta. The launch also includes plans to expand into Houston, Texas, in the near future.
As part of its service model, Guardian Mobile Express works alongside Vanguard Truck Centers’ existing full-service mobile support. While Guardian Mobile Express focuses on mobile repair and preventative maintenance, Vanguard said it will continue to provide support for more complex repairs, advanced diagnostics, and heavy-duty service needs.
Guardian Mobile Express technicians will provide a range of mobile truck repair and maintenance services, including:
- Preventative maintenance
- DOT inspections
- Mobile lighting and electrical repairs
- Mudflap and exterior equipment replacement
- Belt and drive system service and replacement
- Minor warranty repairs
- Software campaign updates
[Related: Major truck stop discontinues roadside repairs in total]
