Exemptions for trucker’s Hours of Service (HOS) rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended again. In addition, groceries and their precursor materials have been added to the list of goods which qualify for the exemption.
In a declaration published on August 11th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that the HOS exemptions will be extended though at least September 14th, 2020.
Previously, some goods had been removed from the list of qualified goods as freight movement began to return to normal. However, as the pandemic has surged in parts of the country, FMCSA has added groceries back onto the list. As such, groceries and all precursor products also qualify loads for HOS exemptions.
Currently, truckers will be exempt from HOS rules if they are hauling loads such as:
- Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;
- 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;
- Food, paper products and other groceries for restocking of distribution centers or stores;
- Immediate precursor raw materials-such as paper, plastic or alcohol-that are required and to be used for the manufacture of items in categories (1), (2) or (3);
As always, the exemption does not apply to “routine commercial deliveries.” The FMCSA also warns that truckers who only carry small amounts of these goods “added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration” will not qualify for the exemption.
Source: FMCSA, truckinginfo, overdrive
You need to update this story. Precursor materials are not included in the exemption.
How do you know that? Precursor means “before” something- such as covid19. So, items like toilet paper would be exempt because its precursors Covid19.
Precursor means it is used to make the products, not that it was before coronavirus. You’re confusing precursor with preceding
I’m going off exactly what the article states. The last notation lists “ Immediate precursor raw materials-such as paper, plastic or alcohol-that are required and to be used for the manufacture of items in categories (1), (2) or (3);”
This is not included in the actual exemption letter. If you read the FMSCA exemption, it says nothing about precursor or raw material. Ie; Paper, plastic or alcohol. Precise refers to the product before it becomes finished goods.
Dammit man
Now we’re hero’s again? When they thought the pandemic was turning around they started treating us like trash again. I’m talking about DOT, shippers, receivers , truck stops and companies. The whole system has been out to screw drivers. I have a misdemeanor conviction from 7 years ago for a 15 minute falsification. Now it’s okay to drive as long as you want because they need the food. Me…I’m going to cut back and relax.
Can’t say as I blame you! We out here killing ourselves being patted on the back as “essential” while those that have never worked LSU on their tails at home getting more money to go buy what we don’t even get time to shop for because we have to keep restocking! It ridiculous!
I’m doing the same, taking it easy!
If I were still driving yours would be my attitude. 25 years ago I was out of hours on a very stormy night in Ukiah CA. I was sick with the flu, running a fever and dead tired. I was hauling groceries and the like. After my drop at local warehouse I drove about 10 minutes and found a deserted street with what looked like a large gravel parking lot. I parked, got into the doghouse pretty much passed out. I’ll bet it was less than a half hour and local law began pounding on my door. He said he had been ponding for at least 5 minutes. He probably was, I thought the whole thing was a dream at first. I opened the door and rain on my face cleared that up anyway. No dream, he and his partner were standing there soaked and pissed because I had parked within city limits. They wrote me a warning and told me to leave.
This country only survives because of the truck driver. We couldn’t wipe our ass without them but there is absolutely no appreciation.
God bless you guys but if I were you I wouldn’t do a damned thing that didn’t put a lot of extra money in my bank account. Screw em!
What you did wrong as nothing do with what we need to do know. I have made mistakes myself and I don’t blame no one for what I did.
How do you know that? Precursor means “before” something- such as covid19. So, items like toilet paper would be exempt because its precursors Covid19.
Wrong
omfg now we are heroes again ? I mean wtf, I got a couple tickets thru out the years here n there yes all on me all my fault for being a super trucker n got caught, oh well life’s a bitch but now its ok once again to run balls to the wall over our drive time ? here’s my reply, fuck off fmcsa I’ll run my legal log, period, oh yeah just in case u didn’t get it fmcsa fuck off.
No wonder you get cited.
Sounds to me like we should take the eld’s and our emergency paper logs and put them in the circular file. As long as there’s a virus there will be an exemption. No need for all that other crap cluttering up my cab…
Stop moving the freight, bring the country to its knees, and demand serious change. From the verbal abuse of employers, dispatchers etc., to the monetary abuse of trucking related retailers, Pilot/Flying J, TA, etc. And let us not forget law Enforcement, who often use their authority for monetary reasons.
Good day!
I ‘ve you there I was out in Italy Kansas two weeks ago I know the adjustment turn around from mercy build on product are by refers intermixed movement with two hangers and the shoot dry time hanger it’s a timely dry food timed by one could be wanting to keep truckers moving frozeen to dry foods and God bless the vegetables that’s moving sometime you need digital mask whole mask for breathers on the end a good jacket for the Fed critical 10 workers killing time amen.
I just ran from Santa Maria CA to Andover MA with a produce load.. since when won’t they take me a day early? At least i get a break for the evening??
We won’t have anything made out of paper trees if these fires keep burning the land up