Trucking news and briefs for Monday, June 1, 2026:
FMCSA waives HOS, ELD requirements for fertilizer haulers across 35 states
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is waiving certain hours-of-service regulations for drivers and motor carriers transporting straight or blended fertilizer in 35 states “to address an urgent fertilizer supply shortfall,” FMCSA said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a full-scale, all-of-government effort to strengthen the country’s fertilizer supply, including efforts to lower shipping costs, expand fertilizer production, and cut red tape so that fertilizers reach America’s farmers. As part of this coordinated action and in response to a request from The Fertilizer Institute, FMCSA issued the waiver to provide needed relief from specified FMCSRs for motor carriers and drivers transporting fertilizer products for commercial farming and agricultural purposes.
FMCSA’s action waives the hours-of-service limitations in 49 CFR 395.3 (maximum driving time) and the requirement for drivers to use an ELD to record the driver’s duty status. The waiver does not apply to the transportation of hazardous materials.
It covers drivers hauling straight or blended fertilizer products in the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Under terms of the waiver, drivers are not permitted to drive more than 16 hours in any 24-hour period, even if the driver is operating under the 150 air-mile ag exemption. Drivers must also take a minimum of a six consecutive hour break in the sleeper berth in each 24-hour period. If there is no sleeper berth, the driver must take a minimum eight consecutive hour break in each 24-hour period.
Drivers who do not use an ELD must use paper records of duty status (RODS) and supporting documents, maintain RODS and supporting documents for six months from the date the record is prepared, and make RODS and supporting documents accessible to FMCSA and law enforcement upon request.
The waiver took effect May 26 is effective through Aug. 26.
I-65 closure looming in Louisville to accelerate bridge replacement
Beginning June 1, a five-mile section of I-65 in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, will close for two months as part of an ongoing bridge replacement project in the area.
The closure will be in place between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street). It’s expected to fully reopen on Saturday, Aug. 1.
A two-mile section of southbound I-65 is expected to reopen to two lanes of traffic by Wednesday, July 1. It stretches from University Boulevard to the Watterson Expressway (I-264). Reopening this section of roadway will reopen four ramps: Crittenden Drive on- and off-ramps and the on-ramps from Eastern Parkway and University Boulevard to southbound I-65.
I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue, and Bradley Avenue near the fairgrounds are at the end of their service life and are being replaced.
Crews will make significant progress during the closure, demolishing and rebuilding part of the new deck and superstructure of each bridge. Accelerated work during the closure will save at least a year of additional restrictions and delays on I-65.
Construction on the I-65 Central Corridor will continue through the end of 2027. Local street closures and ramp closures will also be needed to complete the work on the corridor.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has published a complete list of planned street closures and ramp closures to accommodate construction.
A total of nine bridges on the I-65 corridor are being replaced or rehabilitated as part of the project. The first three bridges are those most in need of repair. The five-mile section of I-65 and the three bridges being replaced will reopen to two lanes of traffic in each direction when the closure ends in August.
Construction on the first three new bridges is expected to be complete in March 2027. The additional six bridges are the I-65 bridges over Liberty Street, Floyd Street, Chestnut Street, Jacob Street/Broadway/Gray Street, Muhammad Ali Boulevard/Brook Street, and the Muhammad Ali Boulevard on-ramp. The approach and schedule for those improvements are being finalized.
During the closure, through traffic will be detoured to I-264 (Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) on the west side of Louisville. This signed detour route has the most available capacity and creates the least traffic impacts. Some ramps to and from I-264 (Watterson Expressway) are being temporarily widened to help accommodate additional traffic during the closure.
Traffic accessing downtown Louisville will use the Jefferson Street exit from southbound I-65. Traffic will also be able to access downtown Louisville via I-64. Traffic leaving downtown will use the ramp from East Liberty Street to access northbound I-65, and the I-64 ramps will also be an option for drivers (Third Street and Ninth Street ramps).
Full I-70 closure planned through December
The Kansas Department of Transportation has scheduled the full closure of I-70 in downtown Topeka to begin in June as part of the Polk-Quincy Viaduct (PQV) project. Additional short-term closures on local roadways are also planned.
Starting Monday, June 8, all lanes of I-70 between Topeka Boulevard and 8th Avenue are scheduled to close until December. During the closure, project work will focus on removing the existing viaduct and completing the new structures. Construction will also continue on the new I-70 lanes and local street network.
The closure’s designated detour will direct I-70 through traffic to I-470. Access to and from the downtown area can be made via the I-70 ramps at MacVicar Avenue, Topeka Boulevard, 8th Avenue and 10th Avenue. Kansas Avenue and Topeka Boulevard will also be open.
Motorists are encouraged to review the I-470 detour and other alternative routes prior to the closure.
Removal of the existing viaduct will start on Tuesday, June 9. Temporary closures will occur on portions of Kansas Avenue, Topeka Boulevard and I-70. Motorists should plan for the following:
- Tuesday, June 9, and Wednesday, June 10, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.: Kansas Avenue will be closed between 1st and 3rd streets. A detour will be marked on 3rd Street, Topeka Boulevard and N.W. Morse Street.
- Friday, June 12, from 11 p.m. until Monday, June 15, at 4 a.m.: Topeka Boulevard will be closed between 1st and 3rd streets. Through traffic can follow the detour on 3rd Street, Kansas Avenue and N.W. Morse Street.
During the weekend closure, southbound Topeka Boulevard will have access to the westbound I-70 on-ramp, and northbound Topeka Boulevard will be directed to 6th Street and MacVicar Avenue to access westbound I-70. Eastbound I-70 will also be closed starting at MacVicar Avenue. Eastbound motorists can follow the local detour -- MacVicar Avenue to 6th Avenue to Topeka Boulevard to the 10th Avenue I-70 on-ramp.
