On March 4th, 2014, the House of Representatives cleared a bill for a vote that would give propane and home heating fuel transporters an exemption to the HOS regulations. The bill known as H.R. 4076, the Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act (HHEATT) was brought about by the propane shortages in many U.S. states, and the FMCSA has already been issuing similar waivers since January, but they can only do so in 30-day increments. The bill does contain a provision that the Secretary of Transportation could end waivers if the propane shortage is resolved before May 31st, but the waivers would most likely be revoked on a state by state basis.
Update March 21, 2014
President Barack Obama signed this bill into law March 21. Propane haulers in 36 states are exempt from federal hours-of-service regulations until May 31. The states include:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and D.C.
The law is intended to improve the delivery of Natural Gas and other home heating fuels. Demand for these fuels based upon the winter’s severity has been high.
