US Issues Limited Suspension of HoS Rules Related to Specific Commodities

US Issues Limited Suspension of HoS Rules Related to Specific Commodities

With President Trump’s deceleration of national state of emergency last week, it triggered a suspension of federal Hours of Service rules for interstate carriers under certain conditions – mostly related to the goods they haul. CTA has been forwarded some information this morning with clarifications related to this suspension. Please see below. As all items related to the issue , they are extremely fluid and CTA will do its best to provide members with updates as they occur.

This Emergency Declaration provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations that are providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks, including transportation to meet immediate needs for:

(1) medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;
(2) 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;
(3) food for emergency restocking of stores;
(4) equipment, supplies and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to COVID-19;
(5) persons designated by Federal, State or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes;
(6) persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 response.

Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, or transportation of mixed loads that include essential supplies, equipment and persons, along with supplies, equipment and persons that are not being transported in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks.