HOS Exemptions Issued In Wake of Northeast Blizzard

Northeast Blizzard Relief – Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is coordinating with the following states that have Declared Emergency Declarations. We recommend you check each State’s Web site and search for “Issued Emergency Declarations” if you are interested in more details. For those carriers or drivers interested in providing services or need to understand FMCSA regulations, the following applies:

Emergency Declaration Information
To provide vital supplies and transportation services to a disaster area in the United States, emergency declarations may be issued by the President, Governors of States, or FMCSA. These declarations trigger the temporary suspension of certain Federal safety regulations, including Hours of Service, for motor carriers and drivers engaged in specific aspects of the emergency relief effort. See 49 CFR 390.23 for the actual emergency regulation.

Relief from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations is limited to a maximum of 30 days, unless extended by FMCSA itself.

The information below reflects currently available relief:

1. These Federal exemptions, when in effect, only apply to 49 CFR Parts 390-399. They do NOT apply to CDL, drug/alcohol, hazardous materials, size & weight, or State/Federal registration and tax requirements. (However, a Governor’s Declaration may add some of those exemptions—read the declaration for details.)
2. Even if an Emergency Declaration is still in effect, the emergency must be on-going and you must be providing direct emergency relief in order to be exempt from safety regulations.
3. The list of Emergency Declarations below may not be complete. Declarations may be in effect even if not listed here.
4. Drivers and carriers should coordinate with State and Federal emergency officials before providing assistance.
5. Even though safety regulations may be suspended, drivers and carriers are expected to use good judgment and not operate vehicles with fatigued or ill drivers, or under any conditions presenting a clear hazard to other motorists using the highways.

FMCSA will update the Web site as new information becomes available.

State:

Connecticut

• Notice of Emergency Exemption from Hours of Service of Drivers (PDF)
• Waiver of International Registration Plan (IRP) Requirements for Connecticut (PDF)

Maine

• Governor’s Emergency Proclamation for US DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Hours of Service Waiver (PDF)

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts Declaration of Emergency Notice (PDF)
• Massachusetts Governor’s Declaration of Emergency (PDF)
• Massachusetts Executive Order (PDF)

New Jersey

• Emergency Declaration Allows an Exemption to Hours-of-Service Regulations for Delivery of Heating Fuels (PDF)

New York

• Certain Hours-of-Service Regulations are Modified for Motor Carriers Transporting Heating Fuels (PDF)

Emergency Declaration Provides Relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) in the Counties of Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester and Contiguous Areas

• Emergency Declaration by Governor Andrew Cuomo
• Statement by New York Department of Transportation

Rhode Island

• Declaration of Disaster Emergency by Governor Lincoln Chafee (PDF)