Late last month, in response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis here in the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended yet again its modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 for truck drivers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The state of emergency the President declared remains in effect regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the nation’s supply chain. Certain truckers and motor carriers are temporarily exempted from the restrictions on the maximum allowable time behind the wheel as detailed in 49 CFR § 395.3.
What Determines Exemptions?
In order to claim exemption from Hours of Service regulations, the drivers must be directly assisting and supporting efforts to combat COVID-19. FMCSA recognizes the effects the pandemic inflicted on the nation’s critical supply chains. This temporary reprieve attempts to restore the rapid transport of crucial goods necessary for pandemic relief and recovery efforts.
This is the latest in a series of extensions of the original Emergency Declaration. As infections persist and viral variants emerge on the horizon, some cargo categories may be added or removed as necessary.
This most recent extension shall apply until just before midnight on Feb. 28, 2022, or until the Emergency Declaration is revoked or otherwise modified by the agency.
Disqualifying Factors
Motor carriers that try to subvert the Emergency Declaration by adding small quantities of emergency relief products to a mixed load of nonemergency cargo do not qualify for the HOS exemption. Neither do drivers with current out-of-service status.
Maintain Impeccable Record-Keeping
To avoid any issues that could jeopardize their CDLs, affected truck drivers and motor carriers must be compliant with all Emergency Declaration Reporting requirements and timelines. It is also prudent to remain up-to-date about any further extensions of the Emergency Declaration. Maintaining awareness of the changing developments in the transportation industry is wise during these challenging times.
Source: fmcsa.dot.gov
Leave a Comment