FMCSA extends COVID-19 HOS exemption to mid-June

Carriers and drivers hauling freight that supports COVID-19 relief efforts have been granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of federal motor carrier regulations, which includes HOS rules. The exemption was soon expanded to include raw materials and other cargo considered essential to coronavirus pandemic relief. 

FMCSA re-emphasized that the exemption order does not include routine commercial deliveries. The exemption also does not apply to loads that include a “nominal quantity” of emergency relief that has been added to the truck as a way to use the exemption to move non-essential cargo.

The exemption includes transportation to meet immediate needs for:

• Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment 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 disinfectants. 
• Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores. 
• Immediate precursor raw materials – such as paper, plastic or alcohol – that are required and to be used for the manufacture of items included in categories listed above. 
• Fuel. 
• Liquefied gases to be used in refrigeration or cooling systems. 
• Equipment, supplies and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to COVID-19. 
• Persons designated by federal, state or local authorities for medical, isolation or quarantine purposes. 
• Persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 response.