Readout of FMCSA’s Information Session with CMV Stakeholders - Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse Updates

Thursday, April 11, 2024

On Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hosted an information session with stakeholders across the trucking industry. The session provided additional information on how the Agency's emergency relief following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD applies to motor carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers.

FMCSA representatives offered an overview of the Agency's emergency relief, further clarified the different hours-of-service relief afforded to carriers engaged in recovery efforts and those that have been impacted by diverted shipments. Additionally, the agency provided hours-of-service refresher training for paper logs that included information on the short-haul exception, status categories, hours-of-service limits, and records of duty status. An update on travel impacts in and around the Baltimore area was also shared along with resources to assist carriers and drivers identify the most up-to-date routing information.
A recording of the session is available for viewing on the FMCSA website, and related questions can be sent to [email protected].

This information session builds upon previous meetings related to the disruptions caused by the bridge collapse and Port of Baltimore temporary stoppage, including:

• Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Economic Council (NEC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration met with trucking industry stakeholders to discuss ongoing efforts to mitigate challenges associated with the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
• Earlier last week, DOT staff met with FLOW participants on changes in inbound container traffic and convened East Coast ports on cargo diversion from the Port of Baltimore.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture, DOT and NEC met with nearly two dozen agriculture and food industry stakeholders to understand the impacts of the port's partial closure for agricultural supply chains in the region.
• Secretary Pete Buttigieg and NEC Director Lael Brainard held a meeting with over 100 leaders from across the supply chain following the suspension of Port of Baltimore vessel traffic.
• SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, joined by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, convened a meeting with several impacted small business owners across multiple sectors to hear about the challenges they are facing and to discuss the availability of U.S. Small Business Administration aid to help address economic impacts.
• The National Economic Council has also repeatedly convened the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to continue coordination of the Biden-Harris Administration's response to supply chain impacts.