The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has opted to extend an expiring emergency declaration providing regulatory relief for drivers hauling certain supplies during the pandemic through May 31, 2022.
FMCSA says that the extension was issued in spite of the fact that COVID-19 cases are on the decline because “persistent issues arising out of COVID-19 continue to affect the U.S. including impacts on supply chains and the need to ensure capacity to respond to variants and potential rises in infections. Therefore, a continued exemption is needed to support direct emergency assistance for some supply chains.”
Motor carriers that voluntarily operate under the terms of this extension are required to report to the FMCSA within 5 days after the end of each month.
The waiver extension applies to truck drivers who are hauling the following supplies in direct support of COVID-19 relief efforts:
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 disinfectant
Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores
Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and ethyl alcohol
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)
Comments