Florida waives HOS for truckers due to hurricane

As hurricane Ian heads towards Florida, some truckers have had their HOS reduced.

Tropical storm Ian is expected to intensify into the major hurricane by midweek, bringing heavy rainfall to South Florida. The National Weather Service predicts that the hurricane will pass west of the Florida Keys as a category 3 storm.

The state of emergency was declared in Florida over the weekend and hours of service regulations are suspended for motor carriers entering Florida. The waiver also applies to truckers who transport emergency equipment, supplies, or personnel, or transporting FEMA mobile homes or office-style mobile homes to or from Florida.

The Florida Department of Transportation also has waived weight and size requirements for any vehicles transporting fuel, emergency equipment, services, supplies, and agricultural commodities and citrus.

“The threat this storm poses to our community is very real,” meteorologists said.

Flash flooding is predicted across much of the Florida peninsula, with heavy rain possible later in the week across the southeastern United States. The Hurricane Center advised Florida residents to stock up on food and stay tuned for weather forecast updates.

“Over the next few days, Hurricane Yan could bring strong winds, heavy rain and significant storm surge to many parts of Florida,” authorities said in a statement.

According to the weather service, the same disaster has not been in the United States since 1921.