If you are hauling products related to pandemic relief, FMCSA has provided regulatory relief for maximum driving time for commercial vehicles involved directly in COVID-19 relief efforts, including but not limited to the transportation of vaccines, medical supplies and equipment, along with livestock and livestock feed, and food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking. Additional commodities covered under the newest declaration include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and ethyl alcohol, along with supplies to assist individuals impacted by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as building materials for displaced individuals.
FMCSA also extended its waiver for interstate drivers operating commercial motor vehicles with credentials that expired on or after March 1, 2020. If you have credentials that technically expired in March 2020, you now have until November 30 to renew those credentials. Drivers whose medical certification or medical variance expired on or after June 1, 2021, also have until November 30 to renew.
This is not a blanket exemption from the CDL, Commercial Learners Permits and/or Medical Certificate requirements. Drivers and carriers should review the waiver details and check with states where you are operating to ensure your operations qualify. Some states have indicated they will not extend the expiration periods to match FMCSA’s waiver.
Every year, TAT (formerly called Truckers Against Trafficking) honors a member of the trucking, bus or energy industry, whose direct actions help save or improve the lives of those exploited or prevent human trafficking from taking place, with the Harriet Tubman Award
Bob Costello has indicated that the freight market has improved – but very slowly – since January. It must be said that ATA’s indices are dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot rates.
Now, however, with Republican control of both houses of Congress and the White House (and, some say, the Supreme Court) I am optimistic that trucking will get a fairer shake than it has during Biden’s term in office.