How Did Sandy Affect Fleets?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have joined forces to ease the harrowing effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Yesterday, the DOT promised $13 million in emergency funds to help pay for roads damaged by the hurricane, with $10 million allotted to New York and $3 million to Rhode Island, respectively

FMCSA also declared a regional emergency for the states on the Eastern seaboard by lifting hours-of-service regulations for crews that are assisting with the cleanup.

As the administration noted in a press release, “The emergency exemption is issued as a result of extreme weather conditions, shortages, and interruptions in the availability and/or delivery and repair of services and property throughout the states affected…”

In the next few weeks and months, vehicles carrying fuel and food will play an invaluable role in the region’s rebuilding efforts.

The FMCSA noted that the new exemption only applies to vehicles with operations providing direct assistance to the emergency relief effort.

“Direct assistance terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in interstate commerce to transport cargo or provide services not destined for the emergency relief effort or when the motor carrier operation dispatches such driver or vehicle to another location to begin operations in furtherance of commerce,” the administration stated.

After visiting the damaged areas this week, President Obama stated that the DOT should aim to “restore vital transportation infrastructure,” as soon as possible.

Affected states include Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. 

On a related note, some analysts expect that the effects of the hurricane may dramatically drive down fuel costs due to increased demand.

AAA estimated that prices may fall beneath its previous estimate of  $3.40  to $3.50 per gallon. Well, at least until the election is over.  As AAA told The Hill, “The storm hit in an area with major gasoline consumers rather than gasoline producers.”