A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
There has not been any slowing in regulatory changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the changes this week have been updates or modifications to previous exemptions and waivers as the Government is adjusting to prolonged timelines. Share this to your social networks to inform your colleagues and be sure to come back next week for another rundown.
Best Practices for Warehouse Operations During Pandemic Released
https://werc.org/news/500026/Warehouse-Practices--Measures-Special-Edition--COVID-19.htm
The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) has published best practices for managing the COVID-19 crisis in warehouse operations. WERC hosted a panel discussion which featured warehouse and supply chain leaders discussing how they are responding to the crisis. The best practices come as direct result of this conversation between industry thought leaders and you can explore them here.
How to Stay Prepared and Organize a Fleet During the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://www.gpsworld.com/how-to-prepare-and-organize-a-fleet-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Our Senior Product Manager, Marco Encinas, authored a poignant piece about some of the key things to consider when managing your fleet in this current environment. His piece was picked up and syndicated by several business, tech and trade outlets including GPS World Magazine, which you can read here.
Congress Retroactively Extends Alternative Fuel Tax Credits
The U.S. Congress recently passed a bill that extends credits for alternative fuel usage, such as propane autogas, through Dec. 31, 2020. Furthermore, fleet owners can now retroactively apply for credits for any alternative fuel purchases made in 2018 and 2019. Read WorkTruck Magazine’s story here, and the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) Fact Sheet on the credits here.
U.S Extends HOS Waiver for Food Transport
As ongoing adjustments to HOS regulations and exemptions needed die to the coronavirus pandemic, the FMCSA has extended the hours of service exemption for truck drivers delivering fresh produce and other food goods by a month. The initial waiver was set to end on April 12, but is now extended to May 16. Read more about this update here.
FMCSA Expands Upon COVID-19-related Waivers for CDL Skills Tests
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/fmcsa-expands-covid-19-waiver-accommodate-cdl-skills-tests
A new expansion on the CDL Testing waivers previously announced, will allow examiners to adhere to social-distancing standards by not being physically in the cab during the on-road segment. The FMCSA has said that states may leverage technologies like Bluetooth and in-cab cameras to administer the tests. The agency will require the states to submit plans on how they tend to do so, and how the test will be comparable to the America Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ model. Read more from our friends at Transport Topics, here.
TSA Extends Transport Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Expiration Dates
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=TSA_FRDOC_0001-0475
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the TWIC expirations due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The extension applies to cards that expired on or after March 1. Cardholders now have an extra 180 days to renew and this temporary extension is in effect until July 31. Read more about this extension here.