With time running out on the most recent hours of service waiver, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration strangely added propane, natural gas, and heating oil to the temporary declaration on May 13.
What makes the recent move seem odd stems from the fact the entire hours of service waiver for truckers hauling essential items on the FMCSA’s list expires May 31. While it’s true the federal government continues to issue last-minute extensions, renewing the emergency guidance at the same time as adding new products would have seemed pragmatic.
The move also left many scratching their heads, given the peak home heating seasons are in the rearview, and other fuels such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and ethyl alcohol were added long ago. Truckers hauling the following materials may be exempt from hours of service restrictions, at least until May 31.
- Livestock and livestock feed
- Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
- Vaccines, constituent products and medical supplies, and equipment, including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention 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 emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores
- Supplies to assist individuals impacted by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., building materials for individuals displaced or otherwise impacted as a result of the emergency)
The FMCSA also issued an exemption to the Indiana company Cleveland-Cliffs Steel on May 11. A U.S. Department of Transportation exemption notice placed on the Federal Register “allows its employee-drivers with commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) who transport scrap metal on two trucks between their production and shipping locations on public roads to work up to 16 hours per day and to return to work with less than the mandatory 10 consecutive hours off duty.”
The Federal Register notice bears Deputy Administrator Robin Hutcheson’s name, but no signature was present on the initial public posting.
“Employee-drivers must go home under the current arrangement, leaving a four-hour gap between production and the driver’s schedule, creating an overrun of scrap metal for disposal and/or recycling,” Cleveland-Cliffs Steel officials reportedly stated.
Unlike the national hours of service directive that requires renewal in a relatively short period, the FMCSA reportedly awarded Cleveland-Cliffs Steel a five-year hours of service hiatus. Public comments were negative, with one driving home the most critical and perhaps obvious point: “This sounds like an accident just looking for a place to happen.”
Truckers transporting goods and materials included on the waiver are urged to check for an extension update and consider their hours of service status should the FMCSA fail to renew the exemption that ends at 11:59 pm on May 31.
Source: landline.com, freightwaves.com
Monkeypox is why. I have no way to attach what I discovered but millions has been sent to bring in emergency vials of vaccines for treating monkeypox.
Just like the Experimental COVID JAB’s…the Monkeypox is an addition to the Depopulation Agenga since there is No Medical reason for anyone to be injected. People don’t die from Mp!
I hope the FMCSA continues to extend the Exemptions, the Professional drivers are doing a stellar job using this extension in a much needed crisis that we face from every direction to Inflation and shortages. The need is great, and the drivers are more than willing to do what it takes to get the freight on time delivered.
Here’s the problem with these bs exemptions. The corrupt FMCSA will abuse drivers and let them work extended hours when they need us to but when they don’t need us they just screw us and say we have to follow unsafe rules like the Elds and one rule fits all HOS garbage. THE FMCSA IS NOTHING BUT A CORRUPT, DANGEROUS and OVERPAID group of idiots
The FMCSA has had to develop rules as a result of out-of control unprofessional drivers doing stupid things (surprise).
Remember that next time you need….ANYTHING. Can’t get stuff without trucks(suprise)
Wrong again! They put these ignorant rules in place for money paid to them by the ATA, CRASH, RSA and many other corrupt organizations and companies . Surprise!
I call BS, prove your statement or otherwise it’s just your opinion.
most drivers drive deliver try to find load then head home , no need to stay out forever and cruise around and let fmcsa control you ,stay home grab a cold one and relax trump and his buttboys will allow to to make big money ,ill be retired ,good luck