The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a Regional Emergency Declaration in response to the "the unanticipated shutdown of the BP Whiting refinery as a result of a fire on August 24, 2022 that affects the supply of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel throughout the Affected States." According to sources, the fire affected utilities to multiple units at BP's largest Midwest refinery and has caused a tightening in the regional wholesale supply of fuel.
The FMCSA's declaration offers an hours-of-service exemption to motor carriers and drivers providing "direct assistance to the emergency relief efforts" in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Specifically, carriers operating in "direct support of relief efforts related to the shortages of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel due to the fire at the BP Whiting refinery are granted relief from 49 CFR § 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles," subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the declaration. "Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration."
The emergency declaration is in place now until the end of the emergency or 11:59 pm ET on September 10th, whichever comes first.
For additional details, carriers and drivers should consult the declaration here.
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