The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended to the end of August its waiver from some commercial driver license regulations for truckers hauling Covid 19 emergency supplies.
Adopted last year, this regulatory relief has been extended several times, and the most recent one was slated to end May 31. The waiver now will end on Aug. 31. It affects CDLs that had been due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020 and extends the eight-year expiration period from date of issuance.
The exemption was created because state agencies were closed during the pandemic, making it impossible to obtain commercial driver’s license and learner’s permit approvals and renewals.
“FMCSA finds the circumstances surrounding this waiver are unique because such government and medical operations are not providing their usual level of service,” the latest waiver said.
Due to its limited scope, short duration and ample precautions that remain in place, FMCSA believes it will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to the level of safety obtained absent the waiver.
The waiver is limited to:
- Medical supplies and equipment related to testing, diagnosis and treatment of Covid 19.
- Vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment for administering vaccines.
- Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants.
- Food and paper products for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores.
- Livestock and livestock feed.
- It does not cover routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the waiver.