Governor Tom Corbett has directed PennDOT to extend the temporary waiver on certain restrictions on commercial drivers to allow for continued smooth delivery of heating oil and propane gas to homes and businesses for heating purposes.
“Winter shows no signs of easing its barrage of bitterly cold weather, and we are extending the waiver to prevent any possibility of people being left without deliveries of fuel,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch.
The waiver, first issued January 10, extends the limits on hours of service for fuel delivery drivers. Drivers usually must take a mandatory rest period after 11 hours behind the wheel. Under the waiver, the limit for driving hours is extended to 14 hours.
Exemption is also granted from the requirements of the 60/70-hour limits rule. This rule requires drivers to stop driving upon accumulating 60 or 70 on-duty hours (including all on-duty and driving time) over a period of seven or eight consecutive days, respectively. Any period of seven or eight consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours.
The original waiver was to expire January 25, but has now been extended through February 11 or until the emergency conditions end.