Two active declarations cover Gulf Coast emergency work
FMCSA lists an Alabama emergency declaration effective October 9 through November 8 and a Florida declaration effective October 6 through November 5. Alabama supplemented its state of emergency as Hurricane Isaias threatened landfall near Mobile and Baldwin counties. Florida acted as Tropical Depression Nine approached with hurricane-force potential and a risk of heavy rain and flooding across North Florida and the Panhandle.
Alabama relief is tied to direct assistance
Alabama’s second supplemental declaration invokes emergency relief under 49 CFR 390.23, including temporary relief from the hours-of-service limits in 49 CFR 395.3 and 395.5. It applies only while a motor carrier or driver is providing direct assistance related to the emergency, such as transporting disaster materials, supplies, goods or services. The relief ends at the earliest applicable cutoff, including when direct assistance ends, the state terminates the emergency or the federal relief period expires.
Florida’s order covers 25 counties and has separate state provisions
Florida’s October 6 order covers Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla and Washington counties. The order includes state authorities involving hours of service, incoming commercial-vehicle registration, possible size-and-weight permits and certain IFTA or IRP requirements. Each provision has its own conditions, so fleets should use the actual order and obtain any required permit instead of assuming one blanket waiver.
Ordinary commercial freight does not become exempt
FMCSA says emergency relief applies along the route only when the transportation is direct assistance to the emergency. A routine load does not qualify merely because it travels through Alabama or Florida, and relief stops when the driver is no longer providing direct assistance. Dispatch records should show what was moved, for whom, where it was delivered and how the trip supported the declared emergency.
Several core requirements still apply
Federal emergency relief under 49 CFR 390.23 concerns Parts 390 through 399 and does not by itself waive CDL, drug-and-alcohol testing, hazardous-materials, vehicle size and weight, registration or tax requirements. A state declaration may separately address some of those subjects, but only within its exact terms. Alabama also states that a motor carrier or driver subject to an out-of-service order cannot use the relief. No declaration authorizes fatigued or unsafe operation.
Driver and fleet takeaway
Before dispatch, save the current federal listing and applicable state order, confirm that the load is direct emergency assistance, identify the covered route and counties, and verify permits, registration and fuel-tax treatment. Record the emergency purpose, customer or agency, commodity, pickup and delivery, and the time relief begins and ends. Keep non-emergency freight out of an exempt movement, return to normal hours-of-service compliance as soon as direct assistance ends, monitor amendments and never dispatch a driver who is too fatigued to operate safely.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — Alabama and Florida Emergency Declarations
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