DOT Considers Temporary HOS Flexibility for Fuel Trucks

May 1, 2006 2:00 PM, EDT

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he Department of Transportation may relax hours-of-service rules for tank-truck drivers after fuel-delivery problems have caused some filling stations to run short of gasoline, Bloomberg reported.

Spot shortages have occurred in Texas as suppliers have diverted trucks to pick up ethanol, an additive being mixed with gasoline.

Union Pacific railroad has also slowed ethanol shipments into Dallas because rail cars cannot be unloaded fast enough to avoid congestion, Bloomberg said.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D - N. Mex.) said some states have asked DOT to extend driver hours, Bloomberg reported.

New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland have already extended hours, though some of the extensions end Monday. (Click here for previous coverage.)