Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025:
- Propane haulers denied winter-long HOS waiver.
- Mobile-fuel-payment service now accepted at major truck stop chain.
- Weigh in on waiver request for warning-triangle alternative light for autonomous trucks.
- FMCSA grants driver-training waiver for state trucking association.
FMCSA denies propane haulers’ wintertime HOS exemption request
A request from the National Propane Gas Association that would allow drivers hauling propane to drive longer hours during the winter months has been denied by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
This summer, NPGA petitioned FMCSA for an exemption, that would have been valid Dec. 15 to March 15 each winter, to allow drivers to drive up to 12 hours a day and be on duty up to 15 hours a day, without weekly limits. It would also have replaced the 34-hour restart with a 24-hour restart, with prior notice by NPGA to FMCSA.
The agency noted that it received 31 comments on the request, 22 of which were in favor of granting the exemption with eight in opposition to it. Among those who opposed the exemption were the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, National Tank Truck Carriers and more.
CVSA said the exemption was unnecessary, and OOIDA said it does “not feel overly broad relief from HOS regulations is warranted for these types of operations.”
NTTC stated that its members are “unwilling to accept the legal and insurance risks” of using an HOS exemption and that “NTTC opposes blanket exemptions of certain fuel commodities over others.” NTTC concluded that granting HOS exemptions “potentially undermines our industry’s work and message of prioritizing highway safety.”
FMCSA in denying the request noted that it has an existing process for issuing emergency declarations and HOS waivers in the event of severe weather and other emergencies. Due to the hazardous nature of the material being transported and breadth of the exemption requested, the agency said it couldn’t determine that safety would be equivalent to or greater than the level without the waiver.
[Related: Propane haulers seek wintertime HOS relief]
Relay Payments now accepted for fuel purchases at TA
Relay Payments and TravelCenters of America reached an agreement to allow Relay to be accepted nationwide at TA, Petro Stopping Centers and TA Express locations.
With the agreement, drivers and fleets can pay for diesel fuel and diesel exhaust fluid at the pump and in-store using Relay’s cardless, digital experience. Participating locations are searchable in the Relay app, helping drivers quickly find fueling along their routes, the companies said.
[Related: Circle K joins Relay Payments network]
“Our carrier customers have been asking for Relay acceptance at TA,” said Michael Stuewe, SVP, Fleet Sales, TravelCenters of America. “Now, we’re delivering on that with Relay's digital fuel payments that make fueling quicker, easier, and more secure.”
For drivers and fleets, Relay’s cardless service streamlines fueling and eliminates risk of fraud due to fuel-card skimming, Relay noted.
“TA is an essential stop for our fleets and drivers,” said Ryan Droege, CEO and co‑founder of Relay Payments. “Extending Relay acceptance to TA’s network ensures our customers have a fast, secure way to pay wherever the road takes them.”
[Related: Tools to prevent fuel fraud, from complex AI to simple self-help]
Emergency LED lighting manufacturer requests exemption from warning-device regulations
Intelligent Motorist Alert Messaging Systems (IMAMS), the maker of LED lighting systems that display emergency messages, has filed a petition with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an exemption that would allow autonomous trucks to utilize its system as an alternative safety system for disabled trucks at roadside.
Current regulations require that truck drivers whose trucks are stopped along a highway to place warning devices, such as warning triangles or flares, around the stopped vehicle.
The IMAMS platform is a dynamic digital LED messaging sign that is securely mounted on the rear doors and front dash of semi-trailers and large CMVs. The company explained that, under its requested exemption, when an autonomous vehicle activates its emergency flashers, the IMAMS platform will automatically display a series of high-visibility, LED-lit messages to oncoming traffic. These messages cycle through "ALERT-ALERT" (in red), "MOVE OVER" (in amber), "SLOW DOWN" (in amber), and "DISABLED VEHICLE" (in amber), providing clear, immediate warnings.
The company said it believes its system is “superior” to the existing regulation because “it activates automatically, which eliminates the delay and risks associated with manual placement of triangles or flares.”
FMCSA is accepting comments on the request, which can be filed here through Dec. 31.
The agency recently granted a waiver to autonomous truck tech developer Aurora that allows the company to begin using cab-mounted warning beacons as an alternative to reflective triangles to meet federal warning device requirements.
[Related: FMCSA clearing path for autonomous rigs with recent waiver?]
FMCSA grants driver-training regs waiver to Montana Trucking Association safety coordinator
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted an exemption to William Cole, the safety coordinator for the Montana Trucking Association, to allow him to provide hazardous materials (HM) classroom training without having at least two years of driving experience of the same or higher class and/or the same endorsement level for which training is to be provided, as the regulations require.
The exemption excuses Mr. Cole from the requirement to possess a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or have previously held a CDL.
In his request, Cole said he believed his qualifications “exceed the necessary knowledge and instructional standards for ELDT theory training” and included several credentials that he holds that he believed show his qualifications:
- CVSA Advanced Hazmat Instructor
- Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO) - Construction
- Specialist in Safety & Health (SSH) - General Industry
- OSHA Outreach Trainer - Construction
- Member of the ATA Law Enforcement Advisory Board
- Facilitator of the Montana Trucking Association Safety Council
Because Cole will be limited to conducting classroom theory training and not behind-the-wheel training, FMCSA said it believes the exemption will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved without it.
The exemption is effective through Dec. 2, 2030.
[Related: FMCSA removes nearly 3,000 CDL training providers from registry]
