FMCSA Tag
14 May FMCSA Declares Regional Emergency Due to Shutdown of Colonial Pipeline System
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On May 9, 2021, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a regional emergency declaration (the declaration) for 18 states in response to the unanticipated shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline system.
This unanticipated shutdown has caused (and is expected to continue to cause) fuel shortages in various parts of the Eastern United States.
04 May Large Trucks Account for a Third of Fatal Crashes in Work Zones
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently published a report concerning the role that large trucks play when traveling through work zones.
In conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week, which is taking place April 26-30 this year, the FMCSA is specifically focusing on the number of large trucks that are involved in fatal crashes within work zones.
26 Mar FMCSA Record Compliance After COVID-19
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Since March 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has provided emergency exemptions and waivers for regulations to support COVID-19 emergency relief efforts.
The FMCSA has provided waivers and exemptions for hours-of-service rules, preemployment drug testing, driving skills tests, and renewals for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), commercial learners’ permits (CLPs) and medical certifications.
During this time, employers that helped with national emergency efforts and used these waivers or exemptions for their drivers may not have kept up with the documentation necessary for their drivers’ files. It is important for employers to understand that, if they used any of these exemptions or waivers, it should be documented in their drivers’ files, and any paperwork or license updates should be completed as soon as possible.
15 Jan FMCSA Proposes to Include Rear Impact Protection in Inspections
On Dec. 29, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published proposed amendments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) regarding rear impact guards for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
The FMCSA is requesting public comments on the proposed amendments. Comments are due on March 1, 2021.
08 Jan FMCSA Proposes Changes to Yard Move Guidance
On Jan. 4, 2021, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published proposed regulatory guidance that would revise its current guidance on recording time while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) as a yard move.
This guidance applies to all CMV drivers required to record their hours of service (HOS). The FMCSA is requesting public comments on the proposed guidance. Comments are due on Feb. 3, 2021.
11 Dec The FMCSA Extends and Expands Coronavirus Trucking Exemptions Through Feb. 28
On Dec. 1, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) expanded and extended yet again the emergency declaration that provides truck drivers an exemption from Parts 390 to 399 of the federal motor carrier regulations (including hours of service, vehicle inspection and driver qualification rules).
COVID-19 trucking exemptions were originally issued on March 13, 2020, but have been repeatedly expanded to remain in force throughout the current pandemic. This latest extension is set to expire on Feb. 28, 2021 or until the national state of emergency ends, whichever comes sooner.
20 Nov The FMCSA’s Clearinghouse Rule Deadline Is Approaching
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule requires employers to monitor employees’ drug and alcohol violations.
Employers must have drug and alcohol violation queries pulled from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse by Jan. 6, 2021.
The rule applies to employers and commercial driver’s license (CDL) drivers. The FMCSA considers owner-operators as both employers and employees, so they must conduct queries on themselves as well.
The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is an online database that allows employers to conduct queries on prospective and current CDL drivers. Queries are electronic checks used to determine whether CDL drivers are prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions due to unresolved drug and alcohol program violations.
02 Oct Waivers for Expired CDLs, CLPs and Medical Cards Granted until Dec. 31
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted a waiver that extends and revises dates for commercial motor vehicle drivers’ (CMVs) licensing and medical certification.
Temporary Waivers
The waiver starts Oct. 1 and applies to certain commercial driver’s license (CDL), commercial learner’s permit (CLP), and medical certification requirements. This waiver provides the same relief as waivers that were granted on March 24 and June 15, 2020, but have since expired.02 Oct FMCSA Revised Hours of Service Regulations Started Sept. 29
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Hours of Service final rule became effective Sept. 29, 2020. The final rule revised the previous regulations on hours of service and affect the sleeper berth provision, adverse driving exception, short-haul exception and the 30-minute break rule.
The FMCSA says it believes these changes will provide more flexibility and allow for more productivity while ensuring safety.
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