Truckers’ Service-Hours Exemption Expands to Meet Virus Needs

Truckers hauling groceries to restock stores or distribution centers in response to the coronavirus crisis are among those granted relief from hours-of-service regulations, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said March 18.

Expanded hours-of-service regulatory relief under the declaration (No. 2020-002) was extended to commercial vehicle drivers who are helping to transport supplies and equipment, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and disinfectants, needed to ensure community safety and sanitation and to prevent transmission of the virus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19.

Also included in the expanded regulatory relief are those transporting fuel or raw materials, such as paper, plastic, or alcohol, which are used to manufacture essential items.

The original national emergency declaration issued March 13 covered commercial vehicle drivers directly supporting relief efforts by transporting medical supplies and equipment related to COVID-19 testings, diagnosis, and treatment or for use by health-care workers, patients, or for community safety.

Those designated by a government authority to provide transportation related to medical care, isolation, or quarantine also were covered under the original declaration, as were those providing transportation tied to the establishment and management of temporary housing and quarantine facilities related to the virus.

The expanded declaration stipulates that direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the emergency declaration.