The Petroleum Marketers Association of America is working with the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration on a waiver of the Hours of Service
regulations specifically for fuel transport to ease the industry's response to
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), PMAA President Rob Underwood has told
OPIS.

The March 13 federal declaration of emergency waiving HOS rules applies to
motor carriers and drivers providing "direct assistance" in relief efforts
related to COVID-19 outbreaks including "transportation and other relief
services provided by a motor carrier or its drivers incident to the immediate
restoration of essential services, such as medical care, or essential supplies
such as food."

Underwood said in an email that PMAA is also discussing whether there is a need
for a waiver of the summertime RVP gasoline requirements. "Some (marketers) are
concerned that there may not be enough time to turn over tanks containing
wintertime gasoline by the June 1 deadline due to a potential drop in consumer
demand," he said.

PMAA's state affiliates are also communicating to state and local governments
that "gas stations and convenience stores are critical and should remain open
during the crisis," he said.

In PMAA's website update on COVID-19, the association also said it is concerned
that the outbreak will "worsen the already acute shortage of qualified
commercial drivers due to attrition from sickness and at-home quarantine."

The group's website says PMAA also is seeking guidance from government
emergency managers for heating fuel dealers and their drivers delivering fuel
to residential customers within quarantined areas or to those who are
self-quarantined at home.

"The goal is to ensure that petroleum marketers and heating fuel dealers can
operate in a coordinated and efficient fashion during a potential widespread
COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak without being hampered by any emergency
restrictions or limitations imposed by state and federal emergency managers,"
the association said online.

--Reporting by Donna Harris, dharris@opisnet.com; Editing by Barbara Chuck,
bchuck@opisnet.com




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