Truckers’ Service-Hour Emergency Rule Extended to July

The temporary suspension of truckers’ service-hours requirements during the coronavirus crisis was extended by a month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said June 8.

The extension period is from June 15 to July 14, the agency said.

The emergency declaration (No. 2020-002) is to apply to drivers providing direct help for Covid-19 relief efforts through the transport of livestock and livestock feed; medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of Covid-19; and supplies and equipment essential for community safety, sanitation, and the prevention of Covid-19 transmission, such as masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer.

The emergency requirements originally were issued March 13 and subsequently modified to broaden the qualifying categories of direct assistance to apply to truckers hauling relief-related workers, equipment, and supplies, such as fuel, paper products, groceries, and raw materials essential to making other relief items.

The agency said that there “is no longer a need for emergency relief with respect to the other categories of supplies, equipment, and persons” covered by a May 13 extension and expansion of the declaration.

The declaration applies to all states and the District of Columbia.