Drivers hauling fuel throughout the Colonial Pipeline market will have their hours of service waived. It will be issuing by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This is following a cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline company. It has, in fact, temporarily shut down much of the company’s operations.
Drivers and Transportation
There is a waiver that will apply to those drivers that transport gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and more. Also including are other refined petroleum products.
Which States Are Included?
It will include various states including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, and Mississippi. Also, they include the following states including New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In addition, to Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Drivers: Direct Assistance Supporting Emergency Relief Efforts
The waiver has conditions. It will apply when there are drivers that provide direct assistance to support emergency relief efforts to haul the fuels. The affecting states are listing above. Direct assistance will end when a driver or commercial vehicle is using in interstate commerce to transport cargo or provide services. Thus, not in support of the emergency relief efforts. It is only related to the shortages of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other refined petroleum products due to the shutdown. Also the partial shutdown, and/or manual operation of the Colonial Pipeline system in covered states. Moreover, when the motor carrier dispatches a driver or vehicle to another location to begin operations in commerce.
Largest Refined Products Pipeline
Transporting more than 100 million gallons or 2.5 million barrels per day, Colonial Pipeline is the largest refining products pipeline in the U.S. The company says Colonial transports roughly 45% of all fuel consumed on the East Coast, the company says.
Government Partners and Colonial Pipeline Company
“Moreover, we will, in fact, on an ongoing basis evaluate product inventory in storage tanks at our facilities and others along with our system. Thus, we are working with our shippers to move this product to terminals for local delivery,” Colonial did say on its Monday update. “They are actions taking by the federal government. They said to go ahead and issue temporary hours of service exemption. This is for motor carriers and drivers that transport refined products across Colonial’s footprint. It should help to reduce local supply disruptions. In resolving this matter, we want to thank our government partners for their assistance.
The four main pipelines do remain offline according to Colonia’s update on Sunday evening. Yet some of its smaller lateral lines between terminals and their delivery points are now operational.
