Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025:
- How will trucking be impacted by the government's shutdown?
- More HOS relief out West.
- New truck parking available on this Rocky Mountain route.
FMCSA operations ‘continue as normal’ amid government shutdown
With Congress unable to agree to a deal to keep the federal government operational into the new fiscal year, the government officially shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
Despite this, trucking safety-regulatory bodies likely won’t see much impact, as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration employees are expected to continue working. According to the Department of Transportation’s shutdown plan, FMCSA’s 1,084 employees are primarily funded by authorized contract authority and paid out of the Highway Trust Fund.
“All operations continue as normal with a lapse in annual appropriations, subject to the amount of liquidating cash the Agency has available,” DOT’s plan said of FMCSA.
DOT said there will be no significant agency activities that stop as a result of the shutdown, as “activities are funded with contract authority, offsetting collections, and advanced appropriations.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration likewise won’t see any employment reductions during the shutdown, DOT noted. All 574 NHTSA employees will continue working.
The Federal Aviation Administration will see the biggest impact of the shutdown, as 11,322 of FAA’s 44,829 employees will be furloughed.
[Related: Govt. shutdown ripples out -- though not toward military freight]
FMCSA again extends Oregon wildfire HOS relief
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has determined that an emergency still exists that warrants the extension of an emergency declaration in Oregon due to wildfires in the state.
The declaration was first issued by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek in July. Since then, FMCSA has twice extended the declaration. On Sept. 29, FMCSA issued its third extension, which is valid through Oct. 31.
The waiver exempts truck drivers responding to the emergency from 49 CFR Part 395.3 (maximum driving time).
The regulatory relief under the extension of the declaration applies regardless of the origin of the trip, as long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the state of Oregon. Direct assistance does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure after the initial threat to life and property has passed, FMCSA said. Nor does it include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the declaration.
[Related: Sleeper berth: Will truckers be able to split as they see fit?]
Colorado rest area reopens along I-70
The I-70 Vail Pass rest area has reopened with additional truck parking and other updated features.Colorado DOT
The Colorado Department of Transportation cut the ribbon Tuesday, Sept. 30, on the newly reconstructed Vail Pass Rest Area, marking a major milestone for the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor, CDOT said.
The modernized facility offers expanded and safer parking for cars and trucks, fully accessible restrooms and amenities, and sustainable design features that reduce long-term operating costs.
“Countless Coloradans and visitors from around the world travel I-70 to enjoy our incredible mountain communities and the breathtaking outdoors our state has to offer. This new rest area will improve that experience for travelers, giving them a safer place to take a break from their drive,” said Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
The updated rest area, according to CDOT, features:
- Expanded truck parking from six spots to 20 that reduces trucks parking on highway shoulders or ramps
- Clearer separation of vehicles and pedestrians in which a reconfigured layout reduces conflict points between cars, trucks and people moving through the rest area
- Safe pull-off options provide a reliable place for fatigued drivers to stop, reducing drowsy-driving crashes.
- ADA accessibility ensures that travelers have safe, functional access to facilities without navigating unsafe terrain
- Staging for CDOT crews provides a better base for maintenance staff and emergency response, allowing faster, safer deployment during storms and incidents
The Vail Pass Rest Area project began in May 2023. The updated rest area is a part of CDOT’s ongoing effort to improve safety and resilience along the I-70 Mountain Corridor, the department said.
