Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, May 27, 2021:
FMCSA extends COVID-related waivers through August
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Wednesday it will extend its COVID-19 waivers – including the hours of service waiver and the CDL, CLP and medical card validity extensions – through Aug. 31. The current waivers, issued in February, are set to expire May 31.
This hours of service extension includes the same regulatory relief for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to COVID-19, as included in the Feb. 17 declaration. The waiver only applies to drivers hauling the following:
- 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
FMCSA says it plans to review the status of this and other emergency regulatory relief — including CDL, CLP and medical card validity extensions — on July 1, and may modify or end the waivers.
"It is FMCSA’s intention to wind down the exemptions granted under this Emergency Declaration and related COVID-19 regulatory relief measures to the extent possible," the agency says.
ATRI seeks fleet input on operational costs
The American Transportation Research Institute is calling on motor carriers to participate in the organization’s annual update to its Operational Costs of Trucking report.
Now in its 13th year, the report collects cost information directly from fleets and owner-operators. It is used as a key benchmarking tool by carriers of all sizes. Public sector agencies also utilize ATRI’s real-world data analysis to make better-informed transportation planning and infrastructure investment decisions. Most recently, ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking data was used to quantify impacts from the I-40 bridge closure in Memphis.
Among the for-hire fleet metrics being requested by ATRI are driver pay, fuel costs, insurance premiums and lease or purchase payments. Carriers and owner-operators are asked to provide full-year 2020 cost per mile and/or cost per hour data using the easy-to-use online data entry form.
For-hire motor carriers are encouraged to provide operational cost data to ATRI by Friday, Aug. 20. ATRI’s data collection form, which protects all confidential information, is available here. Participating motor carriers will receive an advance copy of the full report.
