WASHINGTON – The federal government provided relief to the nation’s truckers today by issuing an expanded national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service relief to drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus outbreak.
 
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s expanded declaration provides for regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts intended 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 essential items;

Fuel; equipment, supplies and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine; persons designated by federal, state or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes;

Persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services.
 
The declaration stipulates direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the emergency declaration. It’s the first time the agency has issued nationwide relief and follows President Trump issuing a national emergency declaration in response to the virus.  
 
“Under Secretary Chao’s leadership, FMCSA is providing additional regulatory relief to our nation’s commercial drivers to get critically important medical supplies, food, and household goods to Americans in need,” FMCSA acting administrator Jim Mullen said in a news release. “The nation’s truck drivers are on the front lines of this effort and are critical to America’s supply chain. We will continue to support them and use our authority to protect the health and safety of the American people."
  
To ensure continue safety on the nation’s roadways, the declaration stipulates that once a driver has completed his or her delivery, the driver must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty if transporting property, and eight hours if transporting passengers. 
 
The American Trucking Associations applauded the declaration.
 
“We thank Administrator Mullen and the Trump Administration for continued support to our industry as we deliver food, water, medicine, medical supplies, fuel and other essentials throughout this public health crisis,” ATA vice president of safety policy Dan Horvath said in a news release. “The men and women of the trucking industry are heroes who remain on the front lines in this national effort.”
 
On Tuesday, ATA president and CEO Chris Spear sent a letter to the White House asking the administration to consider additional policies to eliminate the "confusion and lack of clarity” that are causing “delays and problems” with the industry’s strong response to the crisis.
 
Relaxing restrictions for truckers making crisis-related deliveries was among the policies he asked to be considered. He also sought support for drivers who may need relief renewing credentials during this time of shutdowns and cancelations, keeping rest stops open and providing guidance for the driver health.
 
“Absent policies like these, it will be more difficult to ensure that the shelves are stocked and emergency supplies reach first responders and medical personnel,” Spear wrote. “The efforts to keep us safe, healthy and supplied are shared by government, private citizens and businesses alike. Trucking will continue to do its part in these difficult times. In this current crisis, we ask for your help in supplying America, together.”