News & Alerts

The FMCSA has issued additional guidance describing more activities that fall under its emergency declaration for drivers responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Emergency exemption provides HOS relief to carriers and drivers providing essential services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Roadcheck, scheduled for May 5-7, 2020, has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Plans are to reschedule later this year.

FMCSA’s guidance does not offer a complete exemption from DOT testing requirements due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The FMCSA has granted a waiver for certain CDL, CLP, and medical-certification requirements through June 30 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Motor carriers are required to make all attempts to fulfill drug and alcohol testing requirements during pandemic.

Form I-9 in-person review requirements have been substantially relaxed for remote employers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers are still responsible for the form’s accuracy.

Motor carriers are waiting on FMCSA to offer relief from regulatory requirements.

State and provincial jurisdictions are granting temporary waivers for registrations and permits due to the impact of the coronavirus.

The FMCSA has expanded an emergency exemption that provides regulatory relief for certain truck and bus drivers assisting in coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is in the hands of the Senate.

The bill that included expanded FMLA provisions and paid sick leave has become law.

This bill continues to evolve. In this version, employers must provide up to 10 days of paid sick leave, and the reasons for FMLA leave have been reduced.

Mitigate your risk by making a list of affected services

Includes rules for hours of service and driver qualification, among other requirements

If passed, employers with fewer than 500 would need to provide paid leave, expand FMLA leave.

OSHA has issued temporary enforcement guidance to its Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) easing enforcement of the annual fit-testing requirements of the respiratory protection standard – specifically for the healthcare industry – due to supply shortages of N95 respirators.

Congress is pushing for immediate paid leave due to COVID-19 concerns

To help employers plan for and respond to coronavirus in the workplace, OSHA has published “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19”

An analysis of the impact on trucking

The regulatory relief from Part 390-399 of the FMCSRs has specific criteria to qualify, and the emergency declaration is not exempting carriers from other FMCSA regulations.

Carriers providing direct assistance to those affected could see regulatory relief

Employers can be cited under the General Duty Clause for failing to protect employees from recognized hazards – including workplace violence – and for not actually implementing policies they have created to control such hazards

While Congress has not recently expanded the FMLA, members of Congress continue to apply pressure for such changes

The FMCSA’s push to add more flexibility to the hours-of-service rules is one step closer to reality

FMCSA announced plans to study the impact of harassment and assault on minority men and female truck drivers in the workplace

The NLRB’s final joint employer rule can help employees better understand their employment circumstances for purposes of unfair labor practices

While the novel coronavirus exposure risk to most workers is currently low, OSHA recommends employers remain aware of the evolving outbreak situation and adapt infection control measures as needed