Trucking news and briefs for Monday, May 8, 2023:
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued an executive order exempting in-state fuel haulers from the hours of service regulations in efforts to combat ongoing fuel-supply shortages. Haulers operating under the exemption are required to carry a copy of the governor's proclamation with them on the truck.
Those eligible include haulers of gasoline or gas blends, diesel, fuel oil, ethanol, propane and biodiesel into or within Nebraska.
The waiver "is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until June 4, 2023," the governor's office said. It follows the expiration of a federal waiver extended for multiple states in March through mid-April for fuel haulers, prompted originally by an unanticipated shutdown of the Suncor refinery in Colorado, severe winter storms, and high demand resulting in difficulty in obtaining necessary fuel in the affected states -- Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
The text of Governor Pillen's order also notes that any "driver who notifies a motor carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten consecutive hours off-duty before the driver is required to return to service."
[Related: Eight-state HOS waiver for fuel haulers extended]
A 48-year-old truck driver from Edinburg, Texas, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for obstruction of justice, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jose Manuel Gutierrez pleaded guilty to the charges Jan. 26.
