ALERT: FMCSA Suspends Hours of Service Rules in Florida Ahead of Hurricane Dorian

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: FMCSA Suspends Hours of Service Across Southeast (9 MORE STATES) Ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Washington D.C. – Ahead of the impending landfall of Hurricane Dorian, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has suspended certain federal motor carrier safety regulations (FMCSRs) for drivers and carriers “engaged in specific aspects of the emergency relief effort” in Florida.

In an emergency declaration announcement on Thursday, the FMCSA said,

Drivers responding to provide “direct assistance” to an “emergency” meeting the definitions in 49 CFR 390.5 and declared by FMCSA or a governor, are exempt from applicable regulations in all States on their route to the emergency, even though those States may not be involved in the emergency or stated in the declaration of emergency.

The FMCSA said the emergency must be on-going and you must be providing direct emergency assistance in order to be exempt from safety regulations.

Further, the emergency declaration does NOT exempt drivers/carriers from the requirements relating to CDL, drug/alcohol, hazardous materials, size & weight, or State/Federal registration and tax requirements.

Officials urged drivers and carriers to coordinate with State emergency officials before providing assistance.

State regulations regarding size and weight, permits, taxes, etc. may not have been waived.

Additionally, the FMCSA’s announcement said:

Drivers and carriers are expected to use good judgment and not operate vehicles with fatigued or ill drivers, or under any conditions presenting a clear hazard to other motorists using the highways.

The suspension in Florida will expire in sixty days.

The FMCSA’s suspension of hours of service (HOS) comes one day after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency.

According the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Dorian is expected to strengthen as it moves over the Atlantic waters and will be a Major Hurricane prior to potential landfall on Sunday or Monday.

Florida has issued an Emergency Declaration ahead of the expected landfall of HURRICANE DORIAN. Carriers/drivers providing essential services/supplies granted temporary suspension of certain FMCSRs. See: https://t.co/1vbGMoDUlr pic.twitter.com/slkbRIwHNQ
— FMCSA (@FMCSA) August 29, 2019

Further, the NHC is warning of an increasing risk of dangerous storm surge, rainfall, flooding, strong winds, hazardous seas, and the potential for isolated tornadic activity for portions of Florida ‘s Atlantic Coast.

A total of five states are now currently under HOS suspension which include: Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.

Click on the states above to learn more about each suspension.