FMCSA publishes COVID-19-related waiver extends

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Wednesday, May 26 that it will extend its COVID-19 waivers – including hours of service waiver and the CDL, CLP, and medical card expiration hours through August 31.

The current waivers expire on Monday, May 31.

This hours of service extension includes the same statutory benefits for trucking companies and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to COVID-19, as stated in the Feb.17 declaration.

The waiver only applies to drivers transporting:

• Livestock and livestock feed

• Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19

• Vaccines, constituent products, medical supplies and equipment, including supplies / vaccine delivery kits, related to the prevention of COVID-19

• Supplies and equipment needed for public safety, sanitation and the prevention of public transmission of COVID-19, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants

• Food, paper products, and other emergency restocking items at distribution centers or stores

The FMCSA says it plans to review the status of this and other emergency regulatory measures, including CDL, CLP and medical card validity extensions – on July 1, and may change or cancel waivers.

The agency says that “FMCSA intends to minimize the benefits provided under this Emergency Declaration and related COVID-19 regulatory relief measures as much as possible.”