Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Southern Service Center
1800 Century Blvd., Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 20245

March 3, 2020

REGIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION UNDER 49 CFR § 390.23
No. 2020-001

TENNESSEE

In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.23, the Regional Field Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Southern Service Center hereby declares that an emergency exists that warrants issuance of a Regional Emergency Declaration and an exemption from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), except as otherwise restricted in this Emergency Declaration. Such emergency is in response to severe storms in the State of Tennessee, and their effects on people and property, including immediate threat to human life or public welfare from tornados, high winds, heavy rains, and flooding. This Declaration addresses the emergency conditions creating a need for immediate transportation of supplies, equipment, fuel and persons and provides necessary relief.

On March 2 and 3, 2020, severe weather outbreaks, including tornados, occurred across the State of Tennessee, resulting in multiple fatalities, injuries and extensive property damage. By execution of this Emergency Declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency in the State of Tennessee in direct support ofrelief efforts related to the severe storms are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations except as restricted herein.

This Emergency Declaration provides for regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations while providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, goods, equipment and fuel into the State of Tennessee, and transporting persons into and from the State of Tennessee, or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency in the State of Tennessee from the severe storms. Direct assistance terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in interstate commerce to transport cargo or provide services not directly supporting the emergency relief effort or when the motor carrier dispatches a driver or commercial motor vehicle to another location to begin operations in commerce. Upon termination of direct assistance to the emergency relief effort, the motor carrier and driver are subject to the requirements of 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399, except that a driver may return empty to the motor carrier's terminal or the driver's normal work reporting location without complying with Parts 390 through 399. However, if the driver informs the motor carrier that he or she needs immediate rest, the driver must be permitted at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before the driver is required to return to the motor carrier's terminal or the driver's normal reporting location. Once the driver has returned to the terminal or other location, the driver must be relieved of all duty and responsibilities and must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty if transporting property, and 8 hours if transporting passengers.
 
Nothing contained in this Emergency Declaration shall be construed as an exemption from the controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements (49 CFR Part 382), the commercial driver's license requirements (49 CFR Part 383), the financial responsibility (insurance) requirements (49 CFR Part 387), the hazardous material regulations (49 CFR Parts 100-180), applicable size and weight requirements, or any other portion of the regulations not specifically authorized pursuant to 49 CFR § 390.23.

Motor carriers or drivers currently subject to an out-of-service order are not eligible for the relief granted by this declaration until they have met the applicable conditions for its rescission and the order has been rescinded by FMCSA.

In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.23, this declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect for the duration of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), April 2, 2020, whichever is less.

                                                              Darrell L. Ruban, Regional Field Administrator
                                                              Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
                                                              Southern Service Center