The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a critical waiver to trucking operations affected by the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Maryland, enabling an extension of daily driving hours for truckers. This adjustment is a part of the efforts to manage the logistical challenges stemming from the incident that has significantly disrupted the Port of Baltimore’s operations. The FMCSA’s waiver, effective until May 8 or until the end of the emergency declared by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, adds two hours to the standard 11 hours of driving permitted within a 14-hour day, specifically for truckers rerouting commodities from the Port of Baltimore.
This flexibility is intended to ease the logistical strain for drayage drivers who may now need to operate through the Port of Norfolk, about four to five hours away, offering them the necessary leeway to make round trips without violating hours of service regulations. Additionally, the waiver extends to local fuel deliveries from the Curtis Bay terminal and exempts vehicles involved in bridge cleanup operations from all HOS rules, further facilitating the swift recovery efforts.
In parallel, a glimmer of hope emerges for the port’s gradual return to operation. The Maryland Department of Transportation and the Port Administration have outlined a potential timeline for restoring limited service by late April. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on opening a “limited access channel” that, while narrower and shallower than usual, could allow for certain freight movements, including barge container service and some roll-on/roll-off vessels. This ambitious plan, however, is subject to potential delays due to weather conditions or complications from the wreckage.
The prospect of even a partial reopening is a significant development for the port community, amid concerns that some traffic may never return to Baltimore. The commitment from some ocean carriers to resume operations in Baltimore, coupled with the FMCSA’s supportive measures, underscores the collective effort to mitigate the impact of the bridge collapse and ensure the port’s vital role in national logistics and trade.
