FMCSA suspends some regs during hurricane relief efforts

Exemptions to rules affected by relief efforts expire on Sept. 26 in Louisiana and Texas, Sept. 28 in Alabama and Sept. 30 in Mississippi.

The Trucker News Services

9/2/2008

WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said it had temporarily suspended certain regulations for truckers providing direct emergency relief to areas impacted by Hurricane Gustav.

“To provide vital supplies and transportation services to a disaster area in the United States, emergency declarations may be issued by the President, governors of states or FMCSA,” the agency wrote on a posting on its Web site fmcsa.dot.gov. “These declarations trigger the temporary suspension of certain Federal safety regulations, including Hours of Service (HOS), for motor carriers and drivers engaged in specific aspects of the emergency relief effort.

“Relief from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations is limited to a maximum of 30 days, unless extended by FMCSA itself. In order to be in full compliance with all declarations, be sure to read the definitions of ‘emergency’ and ‘emergency relief.’”

Exemptions to rules affected by relief efforts expire on Sept. 26 in Louisiana and Texas, Sept. 28 in Alabama and Sept. 30 in Mississippi.

To learn more about disaster relief exemptions, click here.