The Pennsylvania Turnpike announced that it would reopen all of its 17 rest stops today at 7:00 a.m. Restrooms and food options will be made available.

The International Registration Plan (IRP) has provided a current list of emergency waivers issued by jurisdictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a waiver for several CDL and CLP-related issues during the COVID-19 emergency, including renewals, skills testing, and medical certifications, among others. The waiver expires on June 30, 2020. FMCSA also issued an enforcement notice to correspond with the waiver.

FMCSA has also issued a notice to State Drivers Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) on the actions they can take during the COVID-19 emergency. This notice presents FAQs to clarify FMCSA’s view of various actions State Drivers Licensing Agencies (SDLA) may exercise for which FMCSA would decline to issue a finding or make a determination of substantial non-compliance.

Yesterday, FMCSA published guidance on disruptions to drug and alcohol testing due to coronavirus. This guidance follows DOT’s department-wide guidance and provides answers to specific drug and alcohol testing questions raised by many trucking companies. The guidance is in effect until May 30, 2020.

Yesterday, FMCSA shared a Frequently Asked Questions (Part 2) document relating to its most recent Emergency Declaration. The guidance is intended only to provide clarity regarding existing requirements under the law. It further details specific items that are covered by the Emergency Declaration.

Transport Canada, the Provinces and Territories, through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), have approved an hours of service exemption for federally regulated carriers related to the fight against COVID-19.

FMCSA has granted a temporary waiver from certain commercial learner’s permit (CLP) regulations, including the requirement that that a CLP holder be accompanied by a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, with the proper CDL class and endorsements, seated in the front seat of the vehicle while the CLP holder operates a CMV on public roads or highways. The temporary waiver also allows states to administer a driving skills test to any nondomiciled CDL applicant, regardless of where the applicant received driver training. Please read the full waiver for the terms, conditions, and restrictions.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, has released a FAQ document detailing how small business owners can take advantage of the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a key provision included in the recently-passed CARES Act. PPP is a nearly $350 billion program to provide eight weeks of cash-flow assistance to small businesses through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency.

In a special edition of TCA's Legal Comment, R. Eddie Wayland explains that the U.S. Department of Labor has updated its preliminary guidance on the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). An important takeaway from the updated guidance is that employers whose businesses are subject to a government shutdown are not required to pay the emergency sick leave or expanded family and medical leave, pursuant to the FFCRA, to their employees.

Yesterday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released guidance for states, localities, and territories which may be implementing quarantine, movement, and/or screening requirements that impact freight and passenger transportation by commercial motor vehicles. The suggestions provided by FMCSA draw on lessons learned from actions to date, as well as federal guidance recommending unrestricted movement and access for critical infrastructure workers.