Canadian Exemption for Carriers Amid COVID-19 Crisis
Under the Essential Freight Transport Exemption, truck drivers providing essential supplies and equipment for emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19 are exempt from Canada’s federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations.
The exemption was signed by Michael DeJong, director general of Transport Canada’s Multimodal and Road Safety Programs, on March 24. The exemption applies to all provinces and territories.
The exemption applies but is not limited to carriers transporting the following:
- Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
- Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants
- Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centres or stores
- Immediate precursor raw materials, such as paper, plastic or alcohol, that are required and to be used for the manufacture of essential items
- Fuel
Guidelines for Affected Carriers and Drivers
In order to fully comply with the exemption, affected carriers and drivers must abide by the following guidelines:
- Carriers must notify the provincial HOS director in the carrier’s base jurisdiction.
- Carriers must provide the director with a list of vehicles, drivers and their driver’s licence information.
- Carriers must ensure that drivers do not drive fatigued.
- Drivers must take at least 24 consecutive hours off duty in every 14-day period.
- Drivers must take 10 consecutive hours off duty after delivering essential cargo.
- Drivers must maintain daily logs and records.
See the full Essential Freight Transportation Exemption here.
For more information or for an insurance quote contact KRGinsure.