The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on July 13 announced an extension of its exemption from certain regulations for drivers and companies providing direct assistance to the COVID-19 emergency relief efforts.

FMCSA is continuing the exemption, originally set to expire on July 14, because the presidentially declared COVID-19 emergency remains in place, and because a continued exemption is needed to support direct emergency assistance for some supply chains.

This extension continues the exemption granted from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Similar to the last extension in June, this extension is limited to the transportation of:

• livestock and livestock feed

• medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19; and

• supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants.

"FMCSA concluded there was no longer a need for emergency relief with respect to other categories of transportation, including food and fuel, and, therefore, removed those categories," noted transportation law firm Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary in an email alert. The firm maintains a COVID-19 Task Force resource page.

Corrected 5:15 EDT July 14, 2020, to cite Scopelitis as a source.