FMCSA extends wildfire-prompted HOS waiver in Oregon

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022:

Emergency HOS declaration extended in Oregon

An emergency hours of service declaration allowing certain truck drivers to operate outside of part of the hours of service regulations in Oregon has been extended through the end of October.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Aug. 27 issued an emergency declaration in the state due to wildfires and “critical fire danger” resulting from high temperatures, winds, storms with dry lightning and persistent drought.

The declaration was originally set to expire Sept. 26, but the emergency is still ongoing, and FMCSA extended it through Oct. 31.

Truck drivers providing direct assistance to the wildfire emergency in Oregon are exempt from Part 395.3 (maximum driving time) of FMCSA’s regulations. Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the emergency declaration, FMCSA noted.

[Related: FMCSA extends COVID-related hours of service waiver a shorter-than-usual 45 days]

Love’s offering coffee deal Thursday to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Love’s Travel Stops is celebrating National Coffee Day by offering customers any size of coffee or hot beverage for just $1 on Sept. 29.

When purchases are made through the Love’s Connect app, all proceeds go to Love’s annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign. My Love Rewards members can get a free coffee or hot drink when they use a free drink refill credit for the purchase, and Love’s will donate $1 on their behalf.

“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Coffee Day than by helping sick and injured kids in our communities though CMN Hospitals,” said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer of Love’s. “Our customers are so generous each year during this campaign, so this deal is a small way to say, ‘thank you.’”

Drink options for National Coffee Day include:

  • Signature house or dark roast coffee
  • Colombian or Brazilian coffee
  • Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
  • Rainforest Alliance pumpkin coffee
  • Cinnabon pumpkin cappuccino or any cappuccino flavor
  • Hot tea

Love’s annual CMN Hospitals campaign ends Sept. 30. Customers can further support CMN Hospitals by Rounding Up the Change or donating any amount at the register.

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FMCSA to allow UPS to train CLP holders on double trailers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted an exemption to UPS to allow the company to conduct behind-the-wheel training for commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders in twin 28-foot trailers, rather than waiting to conduct the training after the drivers receive their Class A CDLs and pass the required knowledge test to obtain the double/triple trailer endorsement.

UPS requested the exemption in February 2020. FMCSA said UPS wanted to “ensure that its driver-trainees know how to safely operate the vehicles they will be driving in normal operations” and that the company planned “to train its Class A CLP holders to operate double trailers prior to the individuals receiving their CDLs and taking the double/triple trailer knowledge test.”

Under the requested exemption, UPS driver-trainee CLP holders will be able to obtain on-the-road training in doubles only under direct supervision of a certified driver instructor who has completed UPS’s eight-week UPS Driver Trainer and Instructor Program and is recertified every 90 days before obtaining a CDL and the required endorsement for operating such CMVs.

FMCSA said that before granting the request, it conducted a “comprehensive review of UPS’s safety performance,” including inspection and accident reports and more.

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