State of Emergency Declaration

In accordance with the authority delegated to me to activate the Tennessee Emergency Management Plan, and the authority granted to me by Governor Bill Lee pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 58-2-107(b)(l)(A), (b)(l)(B), and (k), I hereby declare a state of emergency throughout the State of Tennessee for the purpose of providing regulatory relief in response to a disaster in Ohio. The disaster requires emergency assistance due to widespread damage and power outages and has caused delays in the delivery of essential goods and products critical to our fellow Americans, adversely affecting health, welfare, and the economy. Accordingly, I, Patrick C. Sheehan, Commissioner of Emergency Management for the State of Tennessee, hereby declare this state of emergency to provide the following regulatory relief: 

1.     In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 390.23, as adopted by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.08, a temporary exception is hereby granted from federal rules and regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 395 limiting the hours of service for operators of commercial motor vehicles providing or transporting: 

a.     Fuels, including fuel oil, diesel oil, gasoline, kerosene, propane, liquid petroleum, and other refined petroleum products and heating fuels; 

b.     Feed for livestock or poultry industries, or transportation of animals in those industries; 

c.     Vehicles, equipment, and supplies necessary for the restoration or stabilization of electrical service; or

d.     Essential goods and products, such as water, food, medicine, medical supplies and equipment. 

2.     Paragraph 1 is subject to the following conditions: 

a.     Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed as an exemption from the Commercial Driver's License requirements in 49 C.F.R. § 383, the financial requirements in 49 C.F.R. § 387, or applicable federal size and weight limitations. 

b.     No motor carrier operating under the terms of this Declaration shall require or allow an ill or fatigued driver to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who notifies a motor carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten (10) consecutive hours off-duty before the driver is required to return to service.

The hours-of-service exemption authorized in this Declaration shall be effective at 7:00 pm CDT on August 13, 2026, and remain in effect for five (5) days, terminating at 6:59 pm CDT on August 18, 2026, or during the emergency period, whichever is less.  

The signed PDF of this State of Emergency declaration is available for public viewing.