Red Diesel Relief by State in 2026

A guide to all 50 states and their supporting documents

Reviewed October 7, 2026. Dates below refer to 2026 unless another year is shown.

President Trump’s October 5 diesel order raised a practical question for carriers: what does my state allow? The answer changes with the state, the vehicle, the load, and the taxes involved. This guide lists every state so you can check the entire route and open the documents behind each identified response.

The federal order provides penalty relief from October 5 through December 31, while any delay in paying federal fuel taxes will depend on additional Treasury guidance. It does not automatically forgive federal tax or override state restrictions. A longer state relief period does not extend the federal period.

Read the White House executive order here. 

How To Read this list

A waiver, penalty suspension, or change in enforcement can mean different things. Always review the linked eligibility requirements before assuming the relief applies to your truck or taxes. Requests that are still waiting for a decision are noted separately.

“No official response located” means we did not find a published 2026 state response to the current red diesel highway-use relief. It does not mean the state denied relief or that no relief is available. Check with the state before making a decision. General fuel-tax laws, older emergency waivers, and separate weight or hours-of-service relief are not considered current red diesel guidance.

The links below include official orders, letters, announcements, and agency guidance when available. If we could not locate an official state document, we clearly note that rather than treating a news article as official guidance.

Red Diesel Rules and IFTA Are Two Different Things

Just because a state allows you to use red diesel does not mean you will not owe fuel tax.

Interstate carriers need to check the rules for every state they travel through, even if they do not buy fuel there. For example, Arkansas excludes IFTA-licensed vehicles from its current relief. Nebraska allows some qualifying carriers using regular tax-paid diesel to report certain Nebraska miles as non-taxable under its guidance.

Taxes also vary by state. Texas still requires its 20-cent-per-gallon tax on taxable highway use, while North Carolina requires its 41-cent-per-gallon tax to qualify for certain penalty relief. South Dakota’s announcement does not automatically remove state fuel taxes or penalties.

The important takeaway: Being allowed to use red diesel and not owing fuel tax are not the same thing.

Continue filing your IFTA returns and keeping records of your miles and fuel purchases. Only claim credit for fuel taxes you actually paid, and only report miles as non-taxable when the state specifically allows it.

Check current jurisdiction bulletins on the IFTA notice board

What to Check Before Your Trip

Before using red diesel, check the rules for your load, truck, route, travel dates, taxes, and recordkeeping requirements. You should also check fuel availability and pricing to make sure using red diesel will actually save you money.

Keep your fuel receipts and other records, and clearly identify any red diesel purchases when submitting records.

Iowa requires extra attention. The state information we reviewed lists different expiration dates and eligibility requirements. Confirm the latest Iowa guidance before using red diesel under the expanded relief. Iowa’s state relief also does not extend the federal relief past December 31.

Aladdin will continue contacting state agencies and reviewing new guidance as it becomes available. This guide is intended to help carriers understand the current information and make informed decisions.

For more information about the federal relief, red diesel availability, IFTA, and potential savings, read our complete red diesel explainer.