FMCSA terminates historic 50 state COVID-19 Hours of Service waiver
The Federal Motor Service Security Administration (FMCSA) has introduced an finish to an emergency declaration offering regulatory aid for truckers hauling sure provides through the pandemic after greater than two years.
The earlier Emergency Declaration extension issued on August 31, 2022, continued to offer regulatory aid from 49 CFR § 395.3 (most driving time for property-carrying autos) for drivers offering direct help through the pandemic.
That Declaration extension expired on October 15, 2022, and was not renewed. The FMCSA web site presently states that there aren’t any lively federal emergency declarations.
The HOS waiver utilized to truck drivers hauling sure provides, together with meals, vaccines, medical provides, livestock, and gasoline.
In September 2022, the FMCSA requested public touch upon whether or not there was continued want for the COVID-19 HOS waiver. Whereas many smaller motor carriers and livestock haulers argued in favor of leaving the declaration in place, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) requested the FMCSA to finish the waiver.
From the ATA:
Whereas ATA appreciated the Emergency Declaration Aid all through the early phases of the pandemic, most ATA members not really feel continued aid is critical. ATA members proceed to voice considerations that persevering with regulatory aid could also be used to bypass the hours-of-service laws or foster abuse of the laws. Because the nation strikes towards the tip of the general public well being emergency, most of our membership consider the extension of the emergency declaration aid must be allowed to run out.
The unique FMCSA emergency waiver was issued in March 2020 underneath the Trump administration and was prolonged and modified many occasions all through the pandemic.
