CHANGES AND RULE EXTENSIONS FOR TRUCKERS DURING COVID-19
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When COVID-19 hit our country, truckers were in the news a lot for their undaunted quest to deliver our goods and keep our economy moving. For a brief time, people looked at truckers with a new feeling of respect. As one of the most essential workers in our country, people came to realize that without the hard work and efforts of our semitruck drivers, many other essential workers couldn’t work. Yet, while they might no longer be “trending,” truckers are still out on the road, doing their part to keep our country moving through this pandemic.
In the past months, many rules and regulations have shifted and altered for truckers as trucking organizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) adapt to the ongoing information surrounding COVID-19. Mid-July, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended the Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) exemption for Security
Threat Assessment (STA) renewals, as stated in one of many American Trucking Association (ATA) updates on the virus. In addition to dealing with increased time on the road, truckers have found it difficult to renew their STA, which had originally been extended 180 days in the spring — covering March 1–July 31. This expansion adds an additional 90 days to it, giving truckers time to renew through Oct. 29. Then on Aug. 12, the duration of the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration was revised and extended to Sept. 14. “The original declaration was set to expire on Friday [Aug. 14], and the new one now includes a category for food, paper products, and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores.” One of the most impactful changes taking place on June 1, 2020, was the revision of the hours of service (HOS) regulations. This revision provides “greater flexibility for drivers without adversely affecting safety,” writes the FMCSA. Mark Bigger explains that many of the truck drivers he’s spoken to feel good about this change. “They feel those rules on hours, even though they’re well-intended, mess with their schedules and even throw their sleep patterns off, rather than actually helping,” Mark says. We hope that, though these changes were made in light of COVID-19, their benefits continue to influence truckers even after the pandemic is over. Until then, we are here to support these hardworking truckers as they tirelessly support our country.
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