This emergency declaration allows motor carriers and drivers offering direct assistance in affected areas—including states like Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin—temporary relief from federal hours-of-service regulations governing maximum driving times.

Direct Assistance Explained

Under FMCSA’s guidance, “direct assistance” pertains to relief services and transportation operations crucial for the immediate restoration of essential supplies and services. For more details on restrictions and conditions for this emergency, you can access the FMCSA’s official announcement here.

Additional Fuel Emergencies in Other States

Several states, including North Dakota and Iowa, have independently declared fuel emergencies to address burgeoning supply concerns and regulatory challenges.

North Dakota Emergency Declaration

North Dakota recently issued a fuel emergency order, effective through March 18, citing propane and other petroleum product shortages caused by market fluctuations.

The order’s primary goal is to remove regulatory barriers to ensure that carriers and drivers can obtain, transport, and deliver petroleum-based products to customers, particularly those in residential areas. The declaration states, “The lack of adequate heating fuel poses an immediate risk to public health, safety, and welfare.”

However, direct assistance under this emergency declaration ends when drivers or vehicles transport cargo unrelated to relief efforts or provide unrelated services in interstate commerce.

Iowa Emergency Declaration

Iowa’s fuel emergency will remain active until February 28, with specific attention on rural areas where heating fuel supply constraints are particularly acute. Drivers transporting heating fuels are facing significant wait times at terminals, compounded by hazardous driving conditions.

To address these challenges, the state has temporarily suspended certain hours-of-service regulations. The objective is to increase the volume of fuel transported statewide while alleviating delays in access. According to the declaration, the suspension applies to those transporting key fuels, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, ethanol, biodiesel, and propane, for agricultural and commercial use.

Both declarations aim to ensure that residents, especially those in vulnerable or rural areas, can continue to access heating fuels during these critical winter months, safeguarding public health and safety. Keep checking for further updates on these and other ongoing emergency relief efforts.

Source: Land Line

The post FMCSA Extends Fuel Emergency Relief Until February 28 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Initially declared on March 26, the emergency status was set to conclude on April 8, in accordance with federal regulations limiting such declarations to two-week intervals.

In a recent announcement, FMCSA disclosed that the state of Maryland, alongside the Maryland Motor Truck Association, had formally requested an extension of the emergency relief afforded to truck operators engaged in delivering direct assistance amidst the crisis.

“Because emergency conditions, including the sudden and significant disruption of distribution operations, have not abated,” FMCSA is extending the exemption through May 8.

The extended relief encompasses:

• Transportation activities crucial for the immediate restoration of vital services at the Port of Baltimore.
• Conveyance of goods redirected due to disruptions in vessel traffic bound for the Port, subject to specified terms and conditions outlined in the extension.
• Conveyance of fuel types (gasoline, ethanol, propane, natural gas, and heating oil) from Maryland’s Curtis Bay terminal (situated within the Baltimore Marine Terminal area) to designated locations within the state, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Queen Anne’s County, and Washington County.

“… direct assistance does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure or routine commercial deliveries, after the initial threat to life and property has passed, or mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration,” FMCSA said.

In line with the extension, eligible drivers are exempted from adhering to the maximum driving time hours of service regulations as stipulated in 49 Code of Federal Regulations 395.3.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

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