The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a regional emergency declaration to provide regulatory relief for truckers hauling relief supplies in areas affected by Hurricane Sally.
The September 15 emergency declaration was issued in response to Hurricane Sally and affects Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It will remain in place until October 14, 2020, or the end of the emergency, whichever happens first.
The storm made landfall in the U.S. near the Alabama/Florida state line on Wednesday morning as a Category 2 Hurricane. It is expected to bring with it dangerous flooding and storm surges.
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.
The FMCSA has also recently issued emergency declarations for truckers hauling relief supplies for the wildfires on the west coast, Hurricane Laura, and COVID-19.