The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has yet again extended an emergency declaration that waives Hours of Service regulations for some truck drivers.
On July 13, the FMCSA extended an expiring emergency declaration providing regulatory relief for truckers hauling some types of freight due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.
The previous waiver extension had been set to expire on July 14, 2020. The new extension will be valid through August 14, 2020. The initial HOS waiver was issued on March 13 and has since been extended and expanded several times as the pandemic lingers.
The waiver provides regulatory relief for truckers providing “direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19” and is limited to the following types of loads:
- Livestock and livestock feed
- Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
- Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and disinfectants.
Loads of food, fuel, raw materials including paper, plastic and alcohol, and liquified gases to be used in refrigeration systems are no longer eligible for the HOS waiver.
“Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration,” the FMCSA points out.
The FMCSA also reiterated that the HOS waiver does not give motor carriers the right to compel fatigued drivers to operate. Any driver who informs a motor carrier that they need rest is to be given 10 hours before they are required to return to duty.
Please click here to view the latest FMCSA emergency declaration extension.