March 18, 2020
EXPANDED EMERGENCY DECLARATION
UNDER 49 CFR § 390.
Category: Industry News
The President has declared an emergency and pursuant to 49 CFR 390.23(a)(l)(i), an emergency exists that warrants an exemption from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), except as otherwise restricted by the attached Emergency Declaration. Such emergency is in response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks and their effects on people and the immediate risk they present to public health, safety and welfare in the fifty States and the District of Columbia.
This Emergency Declaration provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations that are providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks, including 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 for emergency restocking of stores; ( 4) equipment, supplies and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to COVID-19; (5) persons designated by Federal, State or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes; and ( 6) persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 response. Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, or transportation of mixed loads that include essential supplies, equipment and persons, along with supplies, equipment and persons that are not being transported in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks.
In accordance with. 49 CFR § 390.23, this declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the termination of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5) or until 11 :59 P.M. (ET) on April 12, 2020, whichever occurs sooner.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration today released data following the first weeks of operation of its Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The information released showed that the clearinghouse has detected and identified nearly 8,000 positive substance abuse tests of commercial drivers since January 6, 2020. The clearinghouse now has more than 650,000 registrants.
“We’ve seen encouraging results from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, but there’s still work to do to ensure we identify more drivers who should not be behind the wheel. The clearinghouse is a positive step, and the Agency continues to work closely with industry, law enforcement, and our state partners to ensure its implementation is effective,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen.
This final rule is effective February 13, 2020.
This rule establishes reductions in the annual registration fees the States collect from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement for the registration years beginning in 2020. For the 2020 registration year, the fees will be reduced by 14.45 percent below the 2018 registration fee level to ensure that fee revenues collected do not exceed the statutory maximum, and to account for the excess funds held in the depository. The fees will remain at the same level for 2021 and subsequent years unless revised in the future. The reduction of the current 2019 registration year fees (finalized on December 28, 2018) range from approximately $3 to $2,712 per entity, depending on the number of vehicles owned or operated by the affected entities.
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today recapped its 2019 achievements and key priorities for improving safety on the nation’s roadways with large trucks and buses.
“Safety is always #1 at the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
“Under Secretary Chao’s leadership, FMCSA has been laser-focused on safety and reducing crashes involving large trucks. The Agency’s accomplishments reflect the Trump Administration’s commitment to improving safety on our roadways, reducing regulatory burdens, and strengthening the nation’s motor carrier industry,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen.
Over the past year, FMCSA has advanced key initiatives that promote safety, reduce burdensome regulations, provide critical safety funding, and help more Americans find a job in the trucking industry. Some of these key achievements include: Read More
Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
To access the Clearinghouse once it is operational, authorized users will be required to request access from FMCSA by registering for the Clearinghouse. Registering this fall is the first step in ensuring you will be ready when the Clearinghouse…
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clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov
Tennessee – On Friday, September 6, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office recognized 44 law enforcement agencies during its 15th Annual Law Enforcement Challenge. This year, 55 Law Enforcement Challenge applications were submitted: 16 from West Tennessee, 12 from Middle Tennessee, 10 from East Tennessee, nine from the Cumberland Region, and one submission from each of the Tennessee Highway Patrol districts. Award winners are listed as follows. For more information, please visit www.tnlifesaverschallenge.com. Click here for full details.