Although the fact that COVID-19 is still an ongoing crisis in the United States and across the world is not a good thing, the continuing struggle has led the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to extend certain relief exemption rules that were set to expire February 29, 2020. The latest extension now expires May 31, 2020.
According to Trucking Info, “Under the order, 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 Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.” The FMCSA has enacted this extension to allow the trucking industry to continue serving as an essential part of the nation’s economy and to support workers in essential roles, including those in the medical, food processing and public safety sectors.
It’s important to note that this exemption does not apply to basic traffic laws, including speed limits, and it does not apply to mixed loads when the amount of non-relief supplies is nominal. Essentially, the function of the delivery needs to be in direct alignment with specific COVID-19 relief actions in order to qualify as exempt. If a driver is uncertain about whether he or she is exempt under the extension, it is recommended to reach out to a team lead or management for further clarification. Additionally, it would be a good idea for drivers to familiarize themselves with exemption regulations prior to heading out on the road to avoid any surprises.
Future Regulatory Exemptions
It is possible that the trucking industry will see future relief exemption concessions and temporary changes to regulations until the pandemic is further under control. These exemptions may affect commercial licenses and learning permits that are due to expire during the potential exemption period, and medical certificate requirements may also change.
Mask mandates will also be a topic of discussion going forward as the pandemic situation changes. Currently, drivers serving in the capacity of passenger transportation are required to wear a face mask during hours of service, but solo long-haul drivers are mostly unaffected. Husband and wife teams are technically subject to the current team-driving mask requirements, but there has been some questioning as to whether or not this makes sense. The FMCSA will hopefully issue some clarification on the matter in short order.
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