The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended its pandemic-related emergency exemption through the rest of the year. This is the eighth extension of the order, which will now last through May. 31.
The FMCSA extension was previously set to expire on Feb. 28, but continues to cover the extended emergency relief for the following categories only:
- Livestock and livestock feed
- Medical supplies and equipment related to testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19
- Vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19
- Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants
- Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores
According to the FMCSA, “Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration.”
Meera Joshi, acting administrator for the FMCSA, added a note at the end of the relief exemption extension.
“In the interest of ensuring continued commercial motor vehicle safety, it is FMCSA’s intention to wind down the exemptions granted under this emergency declaration and related COVID-19 regulatory relief measures to the extent possible,” Joshi said.
Joshi added that this extension is effective at 12:00 a.m. EST on Feb. 17 and shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. EST on May 31, or “until the revocation of the declaration of national emergency – whichever is sooner.”
