Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Friday, Jan. 6, issued an executive order declaring an energy emergency related to a shortage of residential heating fuel in the state.

As a result, truck drivers in the process of obtaining or hauling residential heating fuel in Wisconsin are exempted from federal hours of service regulations.

In his declaration, Evers said winter weather conditions have created strong demand for heating fuel, and added that multiple terminals across Wisconsin have limited supplies of product on hand, are on allocation, or are loading off of the pipeline, which is resulting in long wait times and drivers traveling longer distances to obtain product.

The declaration is in effect “as long as drivers transporting residential heating fuel are providing assistance for the emergency, or for a period of 30 days,” through Feb 4, whichever is shorter.