The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on March 7 that their bird flu emergency declaration has been extended, continuing regulatory relief for commercial drivers aiding in emergency efforts.
The initial declaration was first implemented in February, following bird flu outbreaks in California, Iowa, and Louisiana during December 2024 and January 2025. The FMCSA emphasized that the widespread loss of chicken flocks has disrupted local populations and has had a broader impact on the nation’s food supply, particularly affecting egg availability.
Regulatory Requirements for Drivers and Motor Carriers
Under the FMCSA’s extension, drivers and motor carriers supporting emergency operations must abide by a set of specific requirements to ensure safety and proper compliance, including the following rules:
- Delivery Confirmation: Drivers must secure a valid agreement with the receiving facility confirming acceptance of the live chickens before dispatching shipments.
- Driving Hours Limitations:
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- Drivers may not exceed 16 driving hours within any 24-hour period.
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- All driving must cease at 12 a.m. (midnight) daily.
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- Drivers are required to take a six-hour rest period in a sleeper berth before resuming driving.
- Record Maintenance:
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- Drivers must maintain paper-based records of duty status (RODS) and supporting documents for six months. These records must be readily accessible for review by FMCSA officials or law enforcement.
- Valid Driver’s License:
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- Drivers must hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and cannot be under an out-of-service order or have lost driving privileges.
The FMCSA outlined that emergency assistance protocols will expire once a driver or motor carrier transitions to transporting goods or providing services unrelated to the bird flu relief efforts.
For those transitioning from emergency relief to regular operations, drivers must take a mandatory 10-hour rest period if their combined time working on emergency and normal operations reaches or exceeds 14 hours in a day.
A Multi-Front Approach to Combat Bird Flu
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has described a “five-pronged” strategy aimed at tackling bird flu. This plan emphasizes enhanced biosecurity measures, farmer assistance, and ensuring food prices remain affordable amidst the crisis.
According to CBS News, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already committed over $1 billion since 2020 to support egg producers impacted by the bird flu. Additionally, the USDA plans to allocate another $1 billion to mitigate the effects of the ongoing outbreaks.
Source: Land Line
