On Saturday, March 14, Governor Brian Kemp declared a Public Health State of Emergency for the State of Georgia, in order to allow the state to continue to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Georgia’s residents and visitors as we deal with the impacts of COVID-19.  This emergency order was ratified by the General Assembly in a special session today. 

A link to the full state of emergency declaration is included below.  This declaration is in effect until April 15, 2020, and identifies the following changes to regulations related to motor carriers operating in Georgia:

In accordance with 49 CFR 390.23(a)(I)(i)(A), the federal rules and regulations limiting hours operators of commercial vehicles may drive are suspended to ensure that carrier crews are available as needed to provide emergency relief.  This declared emergency justifies a suspension of Part 395 (driver’s hours of service) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.  The suspension will remain in effect for thirty (30) days from the date the order goes into effect or until the emergency condition ceases to exist, whichever is less.

No motor carrier operating under the terms of the executive order will require or allow an ill or fatigued driver to operate a motor vehicle.  A driver who notifies a motor vehicle carrier that he or she needs immediate rest will be given at least ten (10) consecutive hours off-duty before being required to return to service. 

Weight, height, and length for any such vehicle traveling through the State of Georgia for the purposes of providing disaster relief and/or preparation, which traverses roadways maintained by the State of Georgia, shall not exceed the following:

A maximum gross vehicle weight for vehicles equipped with five (5) weight-bearing axles, with an outer bridge span of not less than fifty-one (51) feet, shall not exceed a gross vehicle weight of ninety-five (95) thousand pounds, a maximum width of ten (10) feet, and an overall length of one hundred (100) feet.  Continuous travel is authorized with the proper escorts.

If the width of said vehicle exceeds eight (8) feet six (6) inches and is traveling after daylight, defined as thirty (30) minutes after sunrise, the transporter is required to have a vehicle front and a rear escort/amber light when traveling on a two-lane roadway and a vehicle rear escort when traveling on a four-lane highway. 

Commercial vehicles operating outside the normal weight, height, and length restrictions under the authority of the executive order shall be issued permits by the Department of Public Safety.

Please click here to read the Executive Order in full.

Additionally, The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  More detail on that declaration can be found here.