MINNEAPOLIS
Trucks delivering certain fuels in Minnesota can now operate under a more liberal time regulation for the next few weeks because of a sharp increase in orders due to this month's heavy snowfall.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed an emergency order Thursday lengthening from 12 to 15 the number of consecutive hours that drivers can be on duty making short-haul fuel deliveries.
While increasing the on-duty time, the order also creates certain temporary restrictions: Drivers can work no more than five consecutive days under the eased rules and then must take off 34 hours before returning to duty.
Unchanged at 10 is the number of hours that drivers must be off duty between shifts.
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The order is in effect now until Jan. 7. It covers deliveries of diesel fuel, gasoline, fuel oil and kerosene. Also, it only applies to smaller "non-articulated" trucks, rather than semitrailer trucks.
The governor noted numerous reasons for the order. Among them:
--A dramatic increase in orders for home heating oil, fuel for stand-by generators, and ongoing snow removal.
--Additional time drivers need to navigate snowbank-narrowed streets, locate heating oil fill pipes under the snow and clear paths for getting trucks close enough for delivery.
--The limited number of drivers qualified to haul diesel fuel.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
