The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced Feb. 17 that it has extended the hours-of-service relief stemming from the coronavirus relief effort through May 31, 2021, for haulers of livestock and livestock feed in all 50 states.
FMCSA provided the exemption from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
The closures of many feed manufacturing facilities due to extreme weather conditions has resulted in a backlog of shipments that requires extra regulatory flexibility to resolve.
Additionally, FMCSA added hours-of-service relief for drivers providing direct support to relief efforts related to the severe winter storm. The relief applies to efforts in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The hours-of-service relief for the winter storm effort expires at the end of the day on March 4, 2021. This relief is only for drivers transporting supplies, goods, equipment, heating fuels, including propane, natural gas, and heating oil, and other fuel products including gasoline into and from the affected states.
The hours-of-service relief for haulers and livestock feed expires at the end of the day on May 31, 2021.
