Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026:
- How’s truck parking across the country? DOT wants to hear from truckers.
- Winter-weather HOS waivers extended.
- Trucks take center stage in celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
DOT asks for driver, fleet input on truck parking for third Jason’s Law report
The Federal Highway Administration is calling the trucking industry to provide input on truck parking nationwide with new Jason’s Law truck parking surveys.
The new surveys, open to drivers and fleet managers via those links, are part of an update to the most recent surveys conducted in 2018-’19.
The MAP-21 highway bill signed into law in 2012 set the wheels in motion for the Jason’s Law reports, requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation evaluate each state’s capability to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for truck drivers, assess the volume of commercial motor vehicle traffic in each state, and develop metrics to measure the adequacy of truck parking facilities in each state.
The first Jason’s Law report was published in 2015, and Congress’ directive to DOT requires periodic updates. In December 2020, FHWA published the second Jason’s Law report.
[Related: The truck parking impact of Jason's Law, nearly a decade in]
Now, the agency is asking for input from truck drivers and fleets, among others, for what will become the third Jason’s Law report.
While the agency has not provided official public communication on the opening of the surveys, FHWA said in a statement to Overdrive that it’s “in the process of collecting responses for the third Jason’s Law truck parking survey in order to better address truck parking needs and improve safety at public and private facilities along the National Highway System.”
In addition to drivers and fleets, surveys are also open for state DOTs, commercial vehicle safety enforcement agencies and private truck parking providers.
The survey tailored to drivers can be completed here. It asks questions related to drivers’ experiences finding parking; the states that have a shortage of truck parking; the times of day, days of the week, and months that are most difficult to find parking; and other subjects.
Fleet managers can complete a separate survey here, which asks similar questions but focuses on managing drivers’ experiences.
The surveys are open through Feb. 27.
[Related: National Coalition on Truck Parking formed]
Emergency declarations, HOS waivers extended in 21 states
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued an extension of two regional emergency declarations that, combined, cover 21 states.
One declaration was issued in response to winter storms and cold weather in 11 states and a power outage at a major gas refinery and industrial complex in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania -- all of it disrupted the flow of propane. States included in the declaration: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia.
The emergency was first declared Dec. 12 and provided a waiver from the maximum driving time regulations for property-carrying vehicles transporting heating fuel including propane, natural gas, and heating oil in the affected states. FMCSA extended the declaration on Dec. 23 through Jan. 15.
FMCSA has now extended the declaration through Feb. 15. The agency noted that the declaration applies regardless of the origin of the trip, so long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the emergency in the affected states.
The other emergency, issued on Dec. 23, was declared in response to winter storms and colder than normal weather in 10 states, a pipeline break and operations issues associated with the Mid-American Pipeline System, and an unexpected shutdown of the Robinson Refinery in Illinois disrupting the flow of propane. The declaration covered drivers transporting heating fuel including propane, natural gas, and heating oil in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
FMCSA said emergency conditions have not abated, so it has extended the declaration, waiving maximum driving time regulations for heating fuel haulers through Feb. 15.
[Related: HOS waivers in 20 states as FMCSA responds to regional emergencies]
Trucks set to pull ‘Freedom 250’ Mobile Museum Tour
As part of the Trump administration’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday this year, the non-partisan Freedom 250 organization established by the administration has announced a Mobile Museum Tour.
The tour will feature six tractor-trailers that will embark on a nationwide tour. The state-of-the-art mobile museum trailers will feature exhibits telling the story of America’s history.
The tour kicked off Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina. Future tour dates have not yet been announced.
