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:
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.
