Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, March 22, 2023:
Fuel haulers in eight states can continue to operate under an hours of service waiver after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended a Regional Emergency Declaration that has been in effect since Dec. 22.
The waiver was initially prompted by an unanticipated shutdown of the Suncor refinery in Colorado, severe winter storms, and high demand resulting in difficulty in obtaining necessary fuel in the affected states -- Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
Under the waiver, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting gasoline, diesel or jet fuel into the eight states are granted emergency relief 395.3 (maximum driving time) of the hours of service regs.
FMCSA first issued the waiver on Dec. 22 and extended the waiver the first time on Jan. 17 before extending it again on Feb. 14 through March 17.
The new extension extends the waiver through April 16. FMCSA said it intends to continually review the status of the extension and may take action to modify, extend or terminate the declaration if conditions warrant.
[Related: HOS carve-out for specialized carriers beyond the 30-minute break exemption?]
