On March 18, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an expanded national emergency declaration providing hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial drivers providing direct assistance supporting COVID-19 emergency relief efforts to meet immediate needs for:
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Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19;
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Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 (e.g., masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and disinfectants);
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Food, paper products, and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores;
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Immediate precursor raw materials (e.g., paper, plastic, alcohol) that are required and to be used for the manufacture of essential items;
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Fuel;
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Equipment, supplies, and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing or quarantine; and
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Persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services.
To read the FMCSA news release and for additional information, visit: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/us-department-transportation-expands-national-emergency-declaration-commercial-vehicles.
In addition, the FMCSA has compiled a list of frequently asked questions related to the emergency declaration.