The Federal Hours-of-Service (HOS) exemptions related to COVID-19 originally issued in March of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic expired at midnight Oct. 15.
All deliveries of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethyl alcohol, heating oil, propane, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), and natural gas must adhere to the Federal Hours-of-Service rule, unless your transportation is affected by one of FMCSA's state or regional declarations, such as those issued in response to Hurricane Ian.
FMCSA has not indicated that it will issue any new HOS exemptions in response to COVID-19.
The Emergency Declaration, along with the subsequent extensions, provided the transportation industry with the relief needed to meet consumer demand during COVID-19, including transporting essential fuel supplies to NATSO’s members.
FMCSA in September solicited public comments on whether to continue to extend the COVID 19 HOS Emergency Declaration.
NATSO previously urged the agency to extend the Emergency Declaration in July 2021, and, in September, urged FMCSA to fully consider market conditions in determining whether to further extend the waiver.
NATSO thinks the Hours-of-Service rule should only be waived when there is a need for direct emergency assistance to support supply chains, and said that the agency should base such decisions on both market conditions and market vulnerabilities.
NATSO appreciates FMCSA’s transparent engagement with stakeholders since the COVID-19 HOS Emergency Declaration was originally issued in March 2020.
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