“Governor Wolf’s emergency declaration last month allows us the flexibility to meet people’s home-heating demands through this challenging weather,” Acting PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. “With this temporary waiver, drivers have more time to reach the customers who need these supplies.”
The action temporarily waives the normal federal hours of service limitations for drivers of trucks carrying these goods. Drivers usually must take a mandatory rest period after 11 hours behind the wheel. The limit for driving hours is extended to 14 hours.
Exemption is also granted from the requirements of the 60/70-hour limits rule. The 60/70-hour limits rule requires drivers to stop driving upon accumulating 60 or 70 on-duty hours (including all on-duty and driving time) over a period of seven or eight consecutive days, respectively. Any period of seven or eight consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours.
The waiver will remain in place through 11:59 p.m. on February 28.