The Hours of Service (HOS) waiver handed down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) last month at the start of the COVID-19 crisis has been extended, the agency announced on April 8. The waiver was set to expire April 12 or at the declaration of the end of the national emergency declared by President Trump. With April 12 just a few days away, and the emergency declaration still in place, the extension of the order was necessary to continue the HOS waiver. The waiver will now run through May 15.

It covers a long list of products, including medical supplies, food/paper products/other groceries “for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores; the materials needed to make those things; fuel; people necessary to deal with the pandemic; and other equipment needed for the same.” The exemption does not cover “routine commercial deliveries.” The FMCSA extension also reiterated earlier clarification that the waiver does not apply to “mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration.”

Source: Freightwaves