FMCSA Responds to Unanticipated Shutdown of Colonial Pipeline

Sunday, May 9, 2021

U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Administration Issues Temporary Hours of Service Exemption in Response to the Unanticipated Shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced today as part of the federal government's efforts to actively assess the implications of the Colonial Pipeline incident and to avoid disruption to supply, that the USDOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is taking steps to create more flexibility for motor carriers and drivers. FMCSA is issuing a temporary hours of service exemption that applies to those transporting gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined petroleum products to Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

USDOT's top priority is safety, and while current circumstances dictate providing industry flexibility, FMCSA will work closely with its state and industry partners to monitor driver work hours and conditions for the duration of the exemption.

The full text of FMSCA's action can be found here.