FMCSA extends HOS waiver for truckers providing relief to states ravaged by wildfires

On Thursday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) extended a previous regional emergency declaration to provide regulatory relief for truck drivers responding to the wildfires on the west coast.

On Septemer 10, the FMCSA extended a regional emergency declaration issued on August 18 — 19 due to wildfire activity in the states of Oregon, Washington, and California.

Per the extension, “motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the wildfire emergency in the Affected States are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations.”

“Direct assistance” includes the transportation of “supplies, goods, equipment, fuel, and transporting persons into and from the affected States,” FMCSA says.

The waiver does not exempt truckers from controlled substance and alcohol testing requirements, commercial driver’s license requirements, insurance requirements, the hazardous material regulations, or applicable size and weight requirements.

For more on the regional emergency declaration, please click here.