Late yesterday, FMCSA again extended its emergency declaration that was set to expire August 14, 2020. The notice extends the emergency declaration to September 14, 2020 and returns food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores to the short list of covered commodities. Currently the following four commodity classes are covered by the declaration.
- Livestock and livestock feed;
- Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;
- 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, and;
- Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores.
As reported by Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, LLC, the declaration only covers “direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts” and does not cover routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief. The terms and conditions of the exemption remain unchanged.