The FMCSA has temporarily suspended hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers assisting in hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
The exemption was announced Saturday, August 26th.
According to the FMCSA, hours-of-service regulations will be suspended for any commercial drivers traveling to provide “direct assistance” to hurricane relief efforts during this state of emergency. Any commercial drivers traveling through any state on their way to help with hurricane relief efforts are included in the exemption, even if the state they are traveling through was not affected by the massive storm.
The FMCSA went on to describe the details of the exemption in a press release.
This Emergency Declaration provides for regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations while providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, equipment and persons into or from the States of Texas and Louisiana or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency resulting from Tropical Storm Harvey in the States of Texas and Louisiana. Direct assistance terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in interstate commerce to transport cargo or provide services not directly supporting the emergency relief effort. Upon termination of direct assistance to the emergency relief effort, the motor carrier and driver are subject to the requirements of 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399.
Hurricane Harvey broke the National record for most rainfall from a single storm, dropping somewhere around 51 inches across the Texas coast, particularly in the Houston area.
The storm has since been downgraded to a tropical storm and left Texas but is expected to make landfall again across Louisiana. Rescue efforts are still underway along the Texas coast as rivers and bayous continue to rise.
See latest from FMCSA re: Hurricane Harvey Regional Emergency Declaration pic.twitter.com/9oU8Nj2U9z
— FMCSA (@FMCSA) August 28, 2017
Motor carriers with questions about the FMCSA exemption can call the FMCSA directly at (877) 831-2250.
