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- Phone: 1-949-863-1000
- Fax: 1-949-863-9028
- Email: info@wga.com
On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published an emergency declaration that provides relief from its hours-of-service (HOS) rules to truck drivers engaged in emergency coronavirus, or COVID-19, relief efforts.
The declaration is in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks and the need for increased transportation to move immediate supplies, equipment, and persons to impacted communities. Per the declaration, immediate needs include ‘food for emergency restocking of stores’, although FMCSA has indicated thus far that it will not delve into creating specific lists or categories of approved foods eligible for HOS relief.
Other noteworthy information:
This declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the termination of the emergency or until 11:59 PM EST on April 12, 2020, whichever occurs sooner. Until then, FMCSA has acknowledged that there may be modifications and expansions to the waiver, as changing circumstances warrant.
FMCSA has created an email through which to receive questions about this declaration: FMCSADeclaration@dot.gov
Western Growers is actively monitoring the situation and working to obtain further guidance and clarification from FMCSA. Please contact Tracey Chow (tchow@wga.com, 202-704-7312) with any questions you may have.
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