For the fourth time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit American shores, the expanded emergency declaration issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been extended. But according to the FMCSA, the added flexibility won’t be around for much longer.
Just after a state of national emergency was declared at the beginning of last year, the FMCSA issued an expanded emergency declaration. It went into effect on March 13th, 2020. Since then, it has been extended four times.
Its most recent extension was announced February 12th. This extension continues to grant drivers who are engaged in emergency relief efforts an exemption from certain Hours of Service (HOS) regulations.
Drivers hauling the following qualify for the exemption:
(1) livestock and livestock feed;
(2) medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;
(3) vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19;
(4) 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; and
(5) food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores.
The expanded emergency extension expressly does NOT apply to drivers who are delivering as part of “routine commercial deliveries” or who are hauling a small amount of a qualifying goods in order to benefit from the exemption.
The exemption will be in place until 11:59 P.M. (ET), May 31, 2021, or until the revocation of the declaration of national emergency – whichever is sooner.
While the exemption may be extended past then, it’s clear that the FMCSA wants to limit the scope of the exemptions as much as possible. FMCSA Acting Administrator Meera Joshi writes that “[I]n the interest of ensuring continued commercial motor vehicle safety, it is FMCSA’s intention to wind down the exemptions granted under this Emergency Declaration and related COVID-19 regulatory relief measures to the extent possible.”
Source: FMCSA
Oh good, now my dispatcher has another reason for me to continue driving beyond normal human limitations
Beatings will continue until morale improves
And trucking accidents are down insanely right now during this exemption. Surprise. When we can drive when we want to, not be pressured by a clock and not have to compete for the road with four wheelers, the roads are as safe as can be.
Yeah but carriers abuse the exception forcing drivers to work long hours I think it has to stop.
That apply to under paid drivers, I don’t complain because I make a lot of money, the more I work the more I make.
I think the truck driver should be add on as one of the front line worker and should be able to take the vaccine shot sooner , instead have to wait.we are out the delivering what everybody need.
Why are they so concerned to bring back regulation, there has been substantial proof now that deregulation and removal of their charter didn’t adversely affect safety on the roadways.
Just long enough to get folks used to the relaxed hours… Now they’ll start checking logs….and hit us in the wallet.
Fmcsa is getting upset that can’t write tickets and revenue is down… However the safety of roadways hasn’t declined… What’s that tell you ..?? 🤔🤔
If they push to reinstate the HOS , they’ll drop industry capacity again and rates will skyrocket even higher. FMCSA needs to be defunded, step aside and let the professionals handle trucking.
I would be interested to see safety statistics during this
Emergency Act .
Meera Joshi could spend more time voicing support
for The Hero’s Act ! As a company driver I see my company having huge profits
on the backbones of their
essential drivers during this pandemic . We do our jobs every day and every night
In a Covid Hazard environment
but get no respect just empty
promises.
And as for any who is insane
enough to still believe this pandemic is a lie or dose not
exsist you need to get out of your truck more often and take a goof look around.
Me personally I caught the Covid 19 SARS critical virus
back in July of last year from a meat packing plant in Greely
Co. It damn near killed me
and I wouldn’t wish this sickness on my worst enemy.
Scared my lungs permanently.
Drivers are essential workers
Pay us what we deserve.
What are we exempt from?
I don’t even wear a mask and most places I go to anymore, even though other people are.
If you don’t trust a trucker then he shouldn’t be on the road. That’s why elogs are BS.
Exactly
I don’t know about anyone else but as far as I’m concerned all this ”safety” talk is just B/S. You will never make me believe the government gives one rat’s butt about our safety, only our revenue and how to get their cut of it. This is just more proof of it. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong!