The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is granting Maryland Motor Truck Association's requests to allow drivers regulatory exemptions in response to the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. 

The following waivers apply to:

• Transportation related to the immediate restoration of essential services at the Port of Baltimore.
• Transportation of commodities re-routed due to the disruptions to vessel traffic into the Port.
• Transportation of fuel (gasoline, ethanol, propane, natural gas, and heating oil) from Maryland’s Curtis Bay terminal (within the Baltimore Marine Terminal area) for delivery to the following locations within Maryland: Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Queen Anne’s County, and Washington County.

FMCSA is allowing drivers an additional two hours of driver time for deliveries of intermodal freight and fuel. Drivers, however, are still subject to the maximum allowed on-duty time. For example, a driver is allowed 13 hours of driving in a 14 hour on-duty window. 

FMCSA also granted an exemption to the electronic logging device requirement because many companies which operate exclusively at the Port of Baltimore are now being diverted to pick up cargo at other ports.  Drivers will still need to keep a paper log while operating under the waiver. 

These waivers will expire May 8 unless extended or revoked sooner. 

Click here to read the waivers in their entirety to ensure compliance: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/extension-emergency-declaration-under-49-cfr-ss-39025-no-2024-002-maryland

IFTA and IRP waivers for Maryland trucking companies

The Maryland Motor Truck Association has been notified by both the Pennsylvania and Virginia Departments of Transportation that these states will waive IRP and IFTA requirements for Maryland trucking companies hauling freight to or from a seaport.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation indicated that the Pennsylvania State Police "will not enforce as long as waivers are in place" in Maryland. 

The period of the suspension will end upon expiration of the state of emergency that has been declared by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as a result of the situation in Maryland. Currently, that state of emergency, as extended, is scheduled to remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), May 8, 2024, whichever is earlier.

Reminder of size limits and hazardous materials restrictions in Baltimore tunnels: 

With the closure of a portion of I-695, motorists are being encouraged to use the I-95 or I-895 tunnels as alternates; however, trucks should be aware of the following restrictions. Vehicles in excess of 13’6” in height, or 96” (8 feet) in width are prohibited from using the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The I-95 Ft. McHenry Tunnel restrictions are 14’6” height and 11’0” in width.

Hazardous materials are prohibited in the tunnels and should use the western section of I-695. A list of the specific prohibitions on various commodities is laid out in COMAR 11.07.01.04, which is available at https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/11.07.01.04.aspx. In addition, if you are operating a vehicle powered by natural gas, you are restricted from using the tunnels if the fuel capacity of the vehicle exceeds 150 pounds. See COMAR 11.07.01.03 (https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/11.07.01.03.aspx).