The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Wednesday, May 26, it will extend its COVID-19 waivers – including the hours of service waiver and the CDL, CLP and medical card validity extensions – through Aug. 31. The current waivers, issued in February, are set to expire Monday, May 31.
This hours of service extension includes the same regulatory relief for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to COVID-19, as included in the Feb. 17 declaration. The waiver only applies to drivers hauling the following:
- Livestock and livestock feed
- Medical supplies and equipment related to the 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
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FMCSA says it plans to review the status of this and other emergency regulatory relief — including CDL, CLP and medical card validity extensions — on July 1, and may modify or end the waivers.
"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," the agency says.
