Trump administration allows truck drivers hauling gas, diesel to work longer hours

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday the Trump administration will temporarily increase how long gas and diesel truck drivers can drive, as fuel costs remain elevated amid the Iran war .

Under the 90-day waiver from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck drivers hauling gasoline and diesel can drive for up to 16 hours within a 24-hour window — an increase from the 14-hour limit under normal conditions. The waiver took effect Wednesday and expires on Dec. 16.

Drivers must still take a minimum of one six-hour break in their truck’s sleeper berth during the 24-hour period. If their vehicle does not have a separate bed area, the driver must take at least an eight-hour break during the aforementioned window.

The waiver applies to truck drivers “in good standing” and excludes “anyone with a conditional safety rating or an active out-of-service order,” the Transportation Department noted in a release .

“From unleashing American energy production to alleviating short-term supply chain pressures, the Trump Administration is constantly taking action to lower fuel prices,” Duffy wrote. “Our great American truckers will continue to haul the products that power America and keep our economy moving.”

The FMCSA waiver requires motor carriers to provide drivers with at least 10 consecutive hours of rest if they need it immediately. Motor carriers must also notify the agency within two business days of a crash.

Gas prices remain at more than $4 per gallon on average, as the war in Iran approaches the seven-month mark. The Islamic Republic’s restrictions on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have hamstrung the global oil trade , with prices in the U.S. impacted despite it being a net exporter of oil .

The national average price of a gallon of regular gas is roughly $4.44 as of Thursday, up from roughly $4.28 a week ago and $1.50 higher than two days before the U.S. and Israel launched the Iran war, according to data from AAA .

Diesel in the U.S. also costs roughly $6.40 per gallon as of Thursday, with Californians seeing a price of about $8.35 per gallon on average, AAA reported.

President Trump on Wednesday reiterated his view that higher gas prices are worth enduring to ensure Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon.

“It’s a very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done, remember that,” Trump said in North Carolina while stumping for GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley.

The president also predicted fuel prices will “come tumbling down” once the conflict ends, which he said last week will occur after November’s midterms .