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FMCSA Rules on Hours of Service Waivers
On Friday, October 13, 2023, the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration released
its final rule “Clarification to the Applicability
of Emergency Exemptions”. In the Proposed
Rulemaking, FMCSA sought to limit the duration
of regional waivers to five days. NPGA submit-
ted a comprehensive comment on the proposed
rule, and in the final rule, the duration of re-
gional waivers was set at fourteen days, subject
to extension. This duration is the same amount
of time provided in the forty-eight state waiver
NPGA secured during the winter of 2022-23. Fur-
ther, FMCSA stated that it could issue a waiver in and how you can get involved. You can register for
advance of an emergency when the emergency the webinar here.
could be “reliably predicted.”
NPGA offers four types of apprenticeships
NPGA is working with outside counsel and to connect motivated workers with propane em-
like-minded associations to assess our options ployers. Each program has been approved by and
with respect to that language, and how we can registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. For
use it to benefit our members. For questions or more information, please visit www.npga.org/ap-
more information, please contact Vice President prenticeship-program or e-mail apprenticeship@
of Regulatory & Industry Affairs Benjamin Nuss- npga.org.■
dorf.■
House Passes Emissions-Rules Measure
National Apprenticeship Week Webinar
In a victory for manufacturers last week,
The U.S. Department of Labor’s National the House of Representatives passed a bill that
Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is November 13-19, would prohibit states from banning the sale of
2023. NAW is a nationwide celebration where new gas-powered vehicles, according to reports.
industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and Lawmakers voted 222-190 to pass H.R. 1435, the
government leaders host events to showcase the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, includ-
successes and value of registered apprenticeship ing yea votes from eight democrats, which would
programs. Click here for a list of NAW events in amend federal law to block state attempts to elim-
your region. inate the sale of vehicles with internal combustion
Given the current tight labor market, engines as well as prohibit the Environmental
apprenticeship programs can be a great tool to Protection Agency from issuing waivers that ban
attract and retain the next generation of propane such sales. The National Propane Gas Association
industry workers and, importantly, create a need- was proud to support this legislation and appre-
ed talent pipeline. ciate Congressman John Joyce (R-PA13) including
In celebration of National Apprenticeship the association in the Congressional Record.
Week, NPGA will host an apprenticeship webinar In recent months, the EPA, National High-
on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. EST. way Traffic Safety Administration, and the state
This presentation will help your company under- of California have all proposed measures to limit
stand the value of NPGA’s Apprentice Program, emissions from light- and medium-duty vehicles.
32 Alabama Propane Gas Association | November / December 2023
