HARRISBURG – PennDOT has added a temporary waiver on certain restrictions on commercial drivers to allow for continued smooth delivery of agricultural feed and essential food, dairy and pharmaceuticals.
“The winter storms just keep coming, and we are extending the waiver to assist with deliveries of these essential items,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch.
The exemption applies statewide to the transportation of essential food, dairy products and pharmaceuticals to food distribution, retail and wholesale food establishments and the transportation and distribution of agricultural feed.
Previously, PennDOT issued a waiver that extended the limits on hours of service for fuel delivery and road salt drivers. Drivers usually must take a mandatory rest period after 11 hours behind the wheel. Under the waiver, the limit for driving hours is extended to 14 hours. The waiver for fuel drivers, first granted Jan. 10, expired Feb. 11. The waiver for salt drivers was effective Feb. 3 and continues until March 2.
Exemption is also granted from the requirements of the 60/70-hour limits rule. This 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 new exemption takes effect at 1 a.m. Feb. 14 and expires at midnight on Feb. 18.