The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule amending its emergency declaration regulations to revise from 14 days to 30 days the length of the relief automatically triggered subsequent to a regional declaration of emergency by a Governor of a state, the Governor’s authorized representative, or FMCSA. This action is in response to several petitions for reconsideration received after publication of a final rule in October 2023 that reduced the default relief period to 14 days.

On January 9, 2026, FMCSA proposed reinstating the 30-day emergency period. NEFI and several other associations supported the change, and FMCSA has now made it a final rule. Effective immediately, any Emergency Declaration will be for a period of 30 days.