Extension of Expanded Modified Emergency Declaration

AQHA Publicity

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently announced that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic warrants an extension of the expanded modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002. The extension of the expanded modified Emergency Declaration continues the exemption granted from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Read the full declaration here.

FMCSA initially issued Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 in response to the March 13, 2020, declaration of a national emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the immediate risk COVID-19 presents to public health and welfare.

This extension will allow motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the FMCSRs, aside from lined out restrictions. Direct assistance means transportation and other relief services provided by a motor carrier or its driver(s) incident to the immediate restoration of essential services (such as medical care) or essential supplies related to COVID-19 during the emergency.

The extension of the expanded modified Emergency Declaration provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19 and is limited to transportation of:

• Livestock and livestock feed.
• Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19 .
• 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.
• Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores.
• Direct assistance does not include non-emergency transportation of qualifying commodities or routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration. To be eligible for the exemption, the transportation must be both of qualifying commodities and incident to the immediate restoration of those essential supplies.

For more information, please visit the FMCSA website.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.