FMCSA Takes Comment on Cleveland-Cliffs HOS Exemption Renewal
FMCSA has provisionally renewed and consolidated two exemptions for Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC, the agency said in a notice published Sept. 30. The relief covers employee-drivers with CDLs who move steel coils and scrap metal across two public-road crossings at the company's East Chicago, Indiana, plant. Under the exemption, those drivers can work up to 16 consecutive hours in a duty period and return after at least 8 hours off duty, instead of the standard 14-hour/10-hour hours-of-service rule in 49 CFR 395.3(a).
FMCSA also kept in place relief from several parts-and-accessories rules — covering heavy hauler trailer definitions, rear side marker lamp height, tire loading, and coil cargo securement — but only for Cliffs' specialized coil-carrier vehicles. The company's scrap trucks remain fully subject to those requirements.
The renewal is provisional for six months while FMCSA reviews comments; Cliffs had asked for a full five-year renewal. The agency said it has no evidence of safety problems under the prior exemptions, which date to 2016 and 2022.
What's next
- 2026-10-30: public comment period closes.
- 2027-03-23: provisional exemption period ends unless FMCSA acts first.
All sources
- Comments close 2026-10-30: Hours of Service of Drivers; Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Exemption Renewal for Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC (FMCSA-2016-0050) — FMCSA comment deadline (Regulations.gov), 2026-10-27
