Federal safety rules limit the amount of time a driver may operate a large truck. Delaware law (21 Del.C. § 4707) and federal regulations allow the state to grant limited waivers of this restriction in emergency situations. 

Under the law, the director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) may grant a waiver of the federal 60/70-hour motor carrier driving rule, for a period not exceeding three consecutive days, to any motor carrier engaged in energy supply deliveries such as heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas, based on criteria established by the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy.

The exemptions allow fuel drivers to deliver critical heating supplies to their customers during times of severe weather or other circumstances causing delays in travel time to a customer’s tank location. Some types of emergencies considered in the issuance of such waivers include hurricanes, ice storms, snowstorms and explosions.

DNREC and DEMA will work together to review waiver requests as they come in, with the goal of same-day response to requests made during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Emergency Fuel Waiver Requests

Submit Emergency Fuel Waiver Request Forms by email to Tom Noyes, at Thomas.Noyes@delaware.gov and include DNREC.EnergyOffice@delaware.gov as CC.

Please contact the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, at 302-735-3480, before submitting the form, to ensure timely return.

Related Topics:  climate coastal energy, commercial motor vehicles, efficiency, energy, energy conservation, funding, incentives, limited waivers, resilience