Federal regulators issued a fourth extension of a rare 50-state exemption of hours-of-service (HOS) rules due to ongoing health risks caused by COVID-19.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it was extending the HOS waiver — which was set to expire Feb. 28 — through May 31.
The national exemption to the HOS rules for truckers and carriers hauling COVID-19 relief was first issued on March 12, 2020, in response to the national emergency declared by President Donald Trump. It was set to expire a month later, but the rapidly spreading pandemic has warranted several extensions and expansions.
Prior to Friday, the most recent extension issued on Dec. 1 was expanded to include carriers transporting COVID-19 vaccines.
“This extension of the expanded modified emergency declaration addresses national emergency conditions that create a need for immediate transportation of essential supplies and provides necessary relief from the [safety regulations] for motor carriers and drivers,” the latest order states.
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Source: Freight Waves
