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Idealease Safety Bulletin – FMCSA Extends the limits of the Emergency Declaration


Read and share the latest edition of our weekly Safety Bulletin, "FMCSA Extends the limits of the emergency declaration", courtesy of Idealease Truck Leasing and Rental.

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In this issue find details on the following:

1.  FMCSA Extends the Limits of the Emergency Declaration

  • Now extended to July 14th. View updated Emergency Declaration
    1. FMCSA has limited the exemption to transportation of:
      1. livestock and livestock feed;
      2. medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19; and
      3. 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 has concluded that there is no longer a need for emergency relief with respect to the other categories of supplies, equipment, and persons covered by the May 13 extension and expansion of the Emergency Declaration, and those categories will no longer be covered after June 14.

2. 90-Day Waiver For Pre-Employment Drug Testing - in effect through 9/30/20 - Click to view

  • The regulations previously in effect required the driver to have been in drug testing program within the prior 30 days.
  • The waiver further requires that the driver either:
    1. was tested for controlled substances within the past 6 months or
    2.  participated in the random controlled substances testing program for the previous 12 months.
    3. In addition, under the exception, the employer would be required to ensure that no prior employer of the driver has records of a violation of 49 CFR Part 382 or the controlled substances use rule of another DOT agency within the previous six months.

3. FMCSA Gives Drivers More Time to Renew Medical Cards and Licenses

  • Medical certification: Drivers who are subject to medical qualification requirements in Part 391 may continue to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with an expired medical certificate and any required medical variance, provided:
    1. The medical certificate and medical variance were valid as of February 29, 2020;
    2. The medical certificate was issued for at least 90 days; and
    3. The driver has not been diagnosed with a disqualifying medical condition since his or her last medical exam.
    4. If the terms of the waiver are met, the driver may continue to operate a CMV with the expired certification until September 30, 2020.
  • Driver’s licenses:The policy to extend expired driver’s licenses for the operation of CMVs applies to all licenses types (Commercial Learner’s Permit, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and non-CDL licenses).
    1.  A driver may continue to operate a CMV with an expired driver’s license provided it was valid on February 29, 2020, and it expired or was downgraded due a lapse in medical certification since March 1, 2020. However, the driver must otherwise be qualified to operate a CMV in accordance with §391.11.

4. Updated ODAPC Guidance – DOT Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals and Service Agents

5.  CVSA “Operation Safe Driver Week” still to Go on As Scheduled July 12-18th. Learn more about the week long enforcement effort here.

6. June 1st was official start date of 2020 hurricane season. 

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*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.




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