FMCSA Issues National Emergency Declaration For Coronavirus Relief

Interesting. I know we have gotten quite busy the past week. This may only enhance that.

National Emergency

We received a text earlier about this, our stores are running in overdrive trying to keep the shelves stocked. On a typical sunday we have 30 routes going out on the AM side. Tomorrow we have 54! They're begging drivers to work extra and PDI/Hyvee is throwing an additional $100 at us per extra route until things calm down.

It says that we are exempt from HOS rules if we're transporting relief supplies. Does that mean that if I'm empty headed back to the DC to grab another load that I then must be legal? In other words if I've driven 11 hours upon delivering my last store am I required to then take a 10 hour break before moving as I'd be empty? I'll be seeking further clarification from my safety team when I get back to the DC.

We received a text earlier about this, our stores are running in overdrive trying to keep the shelves stocked. On a typical sunday we have 30 routes going out on the AM side. Tomorrow we have 54! They're begging drivers to work extra and PDI/Hyvee is throwing an additional $100 at us per extra route until things calm down.

It says that we are exempt from HOS rules if we're transporting relief supplies. Does that mean that if I'm empty headed back to the DC to grab another load that I then must be legal? In other words if I've driven 11 hours upon delivering my last store am I required to then take a 10 hour break before moving as I'd be empty? I'll be seeking further clarification from my safety team when I get back to the DC.

My take is that you only have to take your 10 once you are done delivering "relief supplies". Personally, I would take that to mean anything related to food/sanitizers regardless if going from or to a store or DC.

If it were me, I'd take the ticket and let my company fight it out with the state afterwards.

The way I read it, it will not help you as I am sure you are hauling mixed loads and not just emergency supplies to HyVee stores. It appears it is only for the delivery of whole loads of relief supplies.

I missed this part of the article

The emergency declaration stipulates that once a driver has completed his or her delivery, the driver must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty if transporting property, and 8 hours if transporting passengers.

I wonder if the load of Bud Hard Seltzer that I have to deliver to Deptford New Jersey on Monday would be considered "Emergency Relief Supplies"?........ lol

CFI informed the drivers a little while ago about the message from the FMCSA.

We were also informed that we will not deviate from our normal HOS rules one bit, no matter what the cargo.

I wonder if the load of Bud Hard Seltzer that I have to deliver to Deptford New Jersey on Monday would be considered "Emergency Relief Supplies"?........ lol

Maybe if it were Corona.

It wasnt mentioned in this article but the declaration also states

if a driver has completed COVID-19 relief work, but then is returning empty to his or her base, they can do so without violating federal rules.

So hypothetically I could do a 600 mile run and make it back to our DC with 5 minutes on my 14. I can then turn around and take another 600 mile run and drive back empty as long as I'm not picking up or delivering LTL freight. We had a voicemail last night from our VP telling us it also states to not drive fatigued. They told us they only want us going over our hours if we're half hour to hour away. They dont want us doing basically a 1200 mile run in one shift.