said that truck drivers who are moving goods "in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks" will temporarily not have to follow the hours-of-service laws, which mandate how many hours a truck driver may work. The declaration has since been extended and expanded twice.
It's the first time since 1938, when it was put in place, that the hours-of-service law has been lifted on a national level. It's common for state and local governments to lift the rule amid natural disasters, as consumers "panic buy" household goods and hospitals need medical supplies. Around 70% of the nation's goods by weight is moved by a truck — so efforts ensuring that they can get to your local grocery store or hospital ramp up in times of crisis.
"Everything from the fuel you put in your vehicle to consumables in your home all get put in play because of a truck driver," Tampa-based truck driver Dennis Felix-Shannon previously told Business Insider. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez In its current edition, HOS requires truck drivers to drive only 11 hours within a 14-hour work period. They must then log 10 hours of "off duty" time. The safety law, which is aimed