FMCSA Extends Emergency Declaration Through 2020

On August 11, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended the Emergency Declaration through December 31, 2020, due to the presidential national emergency declaration still being in effect. FMCSA stated in its release, “This extension addresses national emergency conditions that create a need for immediate transportation of essential supplies and provides necessary relief from [federal regulations] for motor carriers and drivers.”

This extension has modifications that allow regulatory relief for specific products that are providing direct assistance to the support of COVID-19. This does not obtain to routine routes or mixed loads with emergency relief products. The specific products include:

• Livestock and livestock feed;
• 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.