The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration late on Friday, Jan. 23, issued a Regional Emergency Declaration covering 40 states to help with relief efforts from a massive winter storm that swept across much of the United States over the weekend.
Motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to emergency relief efforts in the affected states are covered by the declaration. The waiver exempts those drivers from Part 395.3 -- maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles -- of the hours-of-service regulations.
The waiver applies regardless of the origin of the trip, as long as the operation supports emergency relief in the affected states. It does not cover routine commercial deliveries, mixed loads with nominal emergency supplies, or long-term recovery or infrastructure repair after the emergency period.
Covered states include:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Despite snowy/icy conditions, interstate closures minimal
While the storm has wreaked havoc across much of the nation and caused widespread power outages, most major highways and interstates remain open as of Monday morning.
A number of states are reporting ice and snow covering roadways, but only a handful of closures are in effect for interstates. Overdrive’s review of the 511 sites for each of the 40 states covered by FMCSA’s exemption found the following interstate closures and restrictions Monday morning:
- Louisiana -- I-49 Southbound from the I-20 interchange to Louisiana Highway 3132 in Shreveport is closed due to winter weather. Additionally, the on-ramps from I-220 Eastbound to I-49 Northbound and I-49 SB to I-220 EB are also closed. Several on-ramps to I-20 in the Monroe, Louisiana, area are also closed. Full highway information for the state can be found here.
- Massachusetts -- I-90 in both directions has a reduced speed limit of 40 mph with a restriction for “no special permitted vehicles or tandems” from the New York border to milemarker 110 in Southborough.
- Maine -- Much of both I-295 and I-95 in both directions has a reduced speed limit of 45 mph with over-limit loads prohibited.
- New Jersey -- The New Jersey DOT has issued an emergency traffic regulation order reducing the speed on all state and interstate highways to 35 mph. The restriction began Sunday.
- Pennsylvania -- A 45 mph speed limit and a right-lane-only order for commercial vehicles is in place for the following routes in the state: I-84; I-380; U.S. 22 from PA 217 to I-99; and U.S. 219 from U.S. 30 to U.S. 22. Additionally, a Tier 3 commercial vehicle restriction, meaning no commercial vehicles are permitted except loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices, is in effect for: I-78 in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties; I-80 in Carbon and Monroe counties; I-81 in Schuylkill County; I-176 in Berks County; I-380 in Monroe County; U.S. 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties; and Route 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties.
Keep an eye on states’ 511 sites for any routes you’re planning to travel on for the most up-to-date closure information, or follow Overdrive’s Roads 511 list on X.
[Related: Emergencies declared across Southeast ahead of winter storm, bringing HOS waivers]
