FMCSA issues 5 state HOS waiver as Hurricane Delta nears Gulf Coast

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a regional emergency declaration in anticipation of a hurricane bearing down on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The declaration was issued on October 7 for the following five states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. It provides regulatory relief for drivers providing “direct assistance to the emergency” presented by Hurricane Delta.

Hurricane Delta is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Friday afternoon and could bring wind speeds of up to 115 m.p.h. and storm surges as high as 11 feet.

The emergency declaration provides motor carriers with relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulation while they are providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, goods, equipment and fuel into the affected states, and transporting persons into and from the affected states, or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency.

Drivers operating under the emergency declaration must still comply with controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements, the commercial driver’s license requirements, insurance requirements, the hazardous material regulations, and applicable size and weight requirements.