Iowa Suspends Hours-of-Service Rules for Fuel Haulers

Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation Thursday suspending Iowa Code provisions governing hours of service for crews and drivers who deliver diesel, gasoline or gasoline blends, ethanol and biodiesel into or within the state. The order took effect immediately and runs through 11:59 p.m. on November 28, 2026, according to the governor's office.

The proclamation does not name a specific trigger, such as a supply shortage or weather event, in the text released by the governor's office. It applies to fuel transportation generally rather than to a single company or incident.

The suspension covers Iowa's own hours-of-service rules. It does not address federal hours-of-service requirements administered by FMCSA, and the proclamation does not say whether carriers also need a federal emergency declaration or exemption to extend driving time across state lines. Drivers and dispatchers moving fuel into or through Iowa should check whether their routes also cross jurisdictions still enforcing standard limits.

What's next

• 2026-11-28: Iowa's hours-of-service suspension for fuel haulers expires at 11:59 p.m. unless extended.
• Watch for whether FMCSA issues a parallel federal emergency declaration covering the same fuel movements.

All sources

• Gov. Reynolds issues proclamation for ease of access to transportation fuels — Government site: Office of the Governor of Iowa, 2026-10-29