Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extends emergency declaration to continue support of emergency relief efforts

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended and expanded its emergency declaration regarding commercial transportation of essential COVID-19 supplies.

The federal government extended the declaration through May 15, 2020 because it expired on April 13, 2020.

The federal declaration further expanded relief to also cover liquefied gases to be used in refrigeration or cooling systems.

The declaration covers transportation of essential supplies, equipment and persons, and provides necessary relief from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for motor carriers and drivers engaged in the transport of essential supplies, equipment and persons, related to COVID-19 outbreaks during the emergency.

Specifically, the declaration covers transportation to meet immediate needs for:

1. medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;
2. 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;
3. food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores;
4. immediate precursor raw materials — such as paper, plastic or alcohol — that are required and to be used for the manufacture of items in categories 1, 2 or 3;
5. fuel;
6. liquefied gases to be used in refrigeration or cooling systems;
7. equipment, supplies and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to COVID-19;
8. persons designated by Federal, State or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes; and
9. persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 response.

Commercial motor vehicle drivers who can safely operate a motor vehicle while transporting essential supplies, equipment and persons related to the COVID-19 emergency outbreak will be allowed to continue to operate beyond standard hours of service.

The director for the Wyoming Department of Transportation, through a state declaration, will also continue to waive size and weight permit fees when a commercial vehicle is transporting COVID-19 supplies, equipment and persons to communities in Wyoming.

Commercial vehicles will still need to get a permit if they are oversize and overweight, but the fee will be waived. All safety measures will continue to be followed for non-divisible and divisible loads, as long as maximum allowable weights are not exceeded for axles, bridges and gross weights.

“This Emergency Declaration will help keep necessary supplies flowing throughout this coronavirus environment,” said WYDOT Director K. Luke Reiner. “It is vital that we support transportation needs so our communities get the supplies they need in these unprecedented times.”

Commercial carriers can obtain their permits at the appropriate Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) ports of entry. The ports can also fax or email those forms. For a list of the ports of entry, visit http://www.whp.dot.state.wy.us/home/ports.html .