FMCSA does not extend HOS denial for truckers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) didn’t renew its emergency declaration and HOS waiver for truckers.

The declaration that was in effect for nearly three years, provided regulatory relief to truckers who provided direct assistance in delivering essential goods during the pandemic.

The Declaration has been extended several times since its adoption in March 2020.

It should be noted that FMCSA officials didn’t explicitly announce the revocation of the waiver; but the ad no longer appears on the agency’s ads page on the web.

Many in the trucking industry spoke out against continuing the emergency, including the American Trucking Association.

“While ATA appreciated the assistance in declaring an emergency in the early stages of the pandemic, most ATA members no longer feel it necessary to continue assistance,” ATA wrote in response to an FMCSA request earlier this year for comment on the matter. “ATA members continue to express concern that ongoing regulatory easing could be used to circumvent working hours rules or to encourage abuse of the rules.”