The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Feb. 4 announced the extension of the regional emergency declaration that provides hours-of-service relief for motor carriers and drivers due to severe winter storms and extreme cold.

The relief applies — regardless of trip origin — to fleets and drivers providing direct assistance to emergency relief efforts in the affected states. Routine commercial deliveries and mixed loads with nominal emergency supplies are not covered under the declaration.

Current, extended declaration is in place through Feb. 20 or until the emergency ends, whichever comes first. Originally announced in late January, the declaration was supposed to be in place through Feb. 6.

Affected states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.