Selected COVID-19 and trucking industry news that may impact your business.
As of June 15, 2020:
UPDATE – FMCSA reissues the Waiver and Extends the Enforcement Policy Regarding Expiring Driver’s Licenses and Medical Examiner’s Certificates in response to COVID-19 National Emergency
Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
On Monday, June 15, 2020, FMCSA extended until September 30, 2020 a Waiver and a Notice of Enforcement Policy, that were set to expire on June 30. This extends and FMCSA waiver and an enforcement policy providing needed relief from specified FMCSRs for CLP holders, CDL holders, and non-CDL drivers and motor carriers using those drivers. The Notice of Enforcement Policy applies to all CLP holders, CDL holders, and non-CDL drivers whose licenses were issued for less than the maximum period established by 49 CFR 383.25 and 383.73 and was valid on February 29, 2020 and expired on or after March 1, 2020. FMCSA will continue to exercise enforcement discretion to not take enforcement action for the following:
- A CLP or CDL holder operating a CMV with an expired license, but only if the CLP or CDL was valid on February 29, 2020, and expired on or after March 1, 2020;
- A motor carrier that allows a CLP or CDL driver to operate a CMV during a period in which the driver does not have a current CLP or CDL, but only if the CLP or CDL was valid on February 29, 2020, and expired on or after March 1, 2020;
- A CMV driver (i.e., CLP, CDL, or non-CDL license holder) or motor carrier that allows a CMV driver to operate a CMV during a period in which the driver’s operator license has expired, but only if the driver’s license was valid on February 29, 2020, and expired on or after March 1, 2020, and the driver is otherwise qualified to drive under 391.11; and
A CMV driver or motor carrier that allows a CMV driver to operate a CMV during a period in which the driver does not have the current medical certificate and any required medical variance as required by 49 CFR 391.45(b), but only if the driver has evidence of a medical certification and any required medical variance that was valid on February 29, 2020 and expired on or after March 1, 2020.
Survey shows risk to families, friends as drivers’ biggest COVID concern
CCJ
A survey of more than 1,600 truck drivers found that they have felt safe overall during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are concerned for their own health, as well as bringing the virus home to their friends and families.
Summary of Select Federal COVID-19 Emergency Actions & Regulatory Relief Affecting Trucking
Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
FMCSA Issues New Waiver for Pre-employment Drug Testing of Drivers
Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
On Friday, June 5, 2020, FMCSA issued a new waiver that extends the time under which drivers qualify for the pre-employment drug testing exception in Section 382.301(b) from 30 days to 90 days. This waiver, effective from June 5 through Sept. 30, 2020, will allow employers to forego pre-employment drug testing for drivers who have participated in a drug testing program that meets the part 382 within the previous 90 days of hire or rehire. In its waiver, FMCSA commented that the “administrative and cost burdens of pre-employment testing for furloughed drivers outside the random testing pool for more than 30 days falls on motor carrier employers at the very time they are attempting to return to expanded levels of operation. The Agency finds that temporary regulatory relief from this burden will aid in the economic recovery of motor carriers impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency…” FMCSA has imposed several conditions on use of the waiver including that employers conduct pre-employment full queries on drivers and complete the customary drug and alcohol testing history screening. FMCSA’s full waiver document can be found here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/three-month-waiver-response-economic-consequences-covid-19-public-health-emergency
DOT mails 15.5 million face masks to truckers, other transportation workers
Land Line
About 2.1 million additional face masks have been mailed to motor carriers says the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The 2.1 million cloth face masks distributed to highway and motor carrier workers represented a portion of the 15.5 million overall that were provided to transportation workers. Read More
Company rewards truck drivers for sacrifices during COVID-19
FreightWaves
Roadmaster Group doled out nearly $600,000 over a two-month period to its fleet of company drivers and owner-operators as a way to say thank you for continuing to haul freight amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read More