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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its expanded Emergency Declaration that addresses national emergency conditions that create a need for immediate transportation of essential supplies and provides necessary hours of service relief from the FMCSRs for motor carriers and drivers. The Emergency Declaration is now in effect through August 31, 2022.
Under the declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 public health emergency are granted emergency relief from 49 CFR § 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles, for the following commodities:
(1) livestock and livestock feed;
(2) medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;
(3) vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19;
(4) 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;
(5) food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores;
(6) gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethyl alcohol, and heating fuel including propane, natural gas, and heating oil; and
(7) 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).
FMCSA previously amended the commodities covered by the Emergency Declaration to include heating fuel including propane, natural gas, and heating oil to address particular fuel needs arising out of the ongoing emergency and to broaden the categories of fuel shipments covered.
If you have any questions, please contact GAWDA Counsel Rick Schweitzer:
(202) 223-3040 office
(703) 946-2548 mobile
rpschweitzer@rpslegal.com