NATSO and the organizations representing nearly all diesel and gasoline retail sales nationwide today urged the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to issue a national waiver of the Hours-of-Service regulation (HOS) for the transportation of fuel.
Although FMCSA on March 13 issued a nationwide waiver for the transportation of essential supplies, it did not include fuel.
In a letter to FMCSA Acting Administrator James Mullen, the fuel retailing groups said that issuing a nationwide HOS waiver for the transportation of fuel will help mitigate a broader run on fuel. Specifically, the groups asked FMCSA to issue a national waiver of parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for the transportation of fuel.
In acknowledging receipt of the letter, FMCSA said it is taking the request under advisement.
FMCSA already has issued an HOS waiver that covers the following:
(1) medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;
(2) 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;
(3) food for emergency restocking of stores;
( 4) equipment, supplies and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to COVID19;
(5) persons designated by Federal, State or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes; and
( 6) persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 response.
Fuel is a key component of the supply chain and therefore crucial to ensuring supplies reach their destination. Specifically, NATSO and the groups noted that first responders, hospital workers and emergency response vehicles need uninhibited access to fuel.
In addition to NATSO, the letter was signed by the National Association of Convenience Stores, the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America and the Petroleum Marketing Association of America.
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