Federal Regional Hours of Service Waiver Feb 17 - Mar 4

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the Department of Transportation, issued a regional Hours of Service waiver, including Connecticut and surrounding states, effective upon issuance, yesterday, February 17, and valid through 11:59 p.m. on March 4. This is in addition to the hours of service waiver issued by Connecticut’s DMV, which expires on Feb. 19.

The federal HOS waiver includes transportation of all heating fuels and gasoline in the aid of the winter weather conditions affecting most of the nation. Here are excerpts of the exact wording:

This Declaration addresses the emergency conditions creating a need for immediate transportation of persons, supplies, goods, equipment, heating fuels, including propane, natural gas, and heating oil, and other fuel products, including gasoline, and provides necessary relief. Affected States and jurisdictions (Affected States) included in this Emergency Declaration are: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

By execution of this Emergency Declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency in the Affected States in direct support of relief efforts related to the severe winter storm are granted relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations except as restricted herein.In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.23, this declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), March 4, 2021, whichever is earlier.

You need to download and print out the waiver, and keep it in your trucks’ cabs. (click on button below)

Note: separately FMCSA was warned companies not to abuse the HOS waiver by requiring fatigued drivers to drive and that any driver can refuse to drive past the normal hours of service requirements if they are fatigued.

Here are the standard hours of service requirements, which are waived by this HOS waiver:

11-HOUR DRIVING LIMIT May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty.

14-HOUR DRIVING WINDOW May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on-duty, following 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

60/70-HOUR LIMIT May not drive after 60/70 hours on-duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off-duty.

Download Waiver

Federal Regional Hours of Service Waiver Feb 17 – Mar 4

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