FMCSA Extends Emergency Declaration to May 15

NWRA Staff

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it has extended its emergency declaration first issued on March 13 and expanded on March 18.

The existing provisions of the March 13 emergency declaration and the March 18 expansion remain in place until May 15. The requirements under Parts 390-339 are related to vehicle maintenance, inspection and driver qualifications. FMCSA’s expanded emergency declaration waives those requirements until May 15.

The extension also includes certain reporting requirements that were not required previously. Most notably is the requirement below regarding crash reporting.

A motor carrier whose driver is involved in a crash while operating under this emergency declaration must report any recordable crash within 24 hours, by phone or in writing, to the FMCSA Division Office where the motor carrier is domiciled. The carrier must report the date, time, location, driver, vehicle identification and brief description of the crash.

“We thank the FMCSA for recognizing the challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic and extending their Expanded Emergency Declaration. NWRA remains committed to working with federal and state officials to ensure our members can properly and safely respond to this health crisis,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith in a statement.

View a full list of the requirements.