
As fuel supply concerns persist, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has increased the number of states included in the regional emergency declaration it recently extended.
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota were added to the emergency order by FMCSA on Wednesday, Jan. 29, bringing the number of states covered in the continental U.S. to 43.
Motor carriers and drivers in the states specified by the order, along with Washington, D.C., are provided relief from maximum driving time while operating in direct assistance in the affected states. The transportation of heating fuel, propane, natural gas, heating oil, gasoline and diesel fuel in the affected area are covered by this order.
Severe winter storms and extremely low temperatures have created increased fuel demand as well as difficulty in the distribution of fuel products, according to the declaration first issued on Jan. 10.
Direct assistance means transportation and other relief services provided by a motor carrier or its driver incident to the immediate restoration of essential supplies or services. It does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure after the initial threat to life and property has passed.
Routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief, are not eligible for the relief granted by the FMCSA order.
Motor carriers or drivers with an out-of-service order are not eligible to operate under this order until they have met the applicable conditions.
Upon termination of emergency relief efforts, the motor carrier and driver are subject to the requirements of maximum driving time while operating commercial motor vehicles, except that a driver may return empty to the motor carrier’s terminal or the driver’s normal work reporting location.
When a driver is moving from emergency relief efforts to normal operations, a 10-hour break is required when the total time a driver is engaged in emergency relief efforts, or in a combination of emergency relief and normal operations, equals or exceeds 14 hours.
Several states have also enacted declarations, providing additional relief for motor carriers or drivers within those jurisdictions.
Details on those emergencies can be found here. LL
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