Truck and transport drivers are providing a vital service in moving critical commercial and medical goods to end destinations. On March 30, the Government of Saskatchewan announced it is temporarily adjusting regulations that govern hours of service for drivers.

The modifications are aligned with those made by the federal government said Premier Scott Moe in the afternoon briefing. The choice was made to ensure that critical supplies, food, and medicine can continue to flow across the country. Moe and the government determined that the emergency character of the COVID-19 situation made the adjustments necessary when questioned about safety concerns around the relaxed regulations. Moe himself made reference to the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. 

“We are always concerned about safety each and every day. We are equally concerned with respect to this regulatory change, and we’ll be watching it very closely.”

The exemption on the regulations governing hours of operation refers strictly to those drivers in charge of transporting goods directly related to meeting public and professional needs around COVID-19. As outlined in the government release, those goods include:

  • medical supplies and equipment related to testing, diagnosis and treatment;
  • supplies and equipment necessary for community safety and sanitation, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants;
  • food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centres or stores;
  • raw materials, such as paper, plastic or alcohol, required for the manufacture of medical supplies, sanitation items and safe distribution of groceries;
  • fuel;
  • equipment, supplies and people to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine and isolation facilities;
  • people designated by Federal, Provincial/Territorial or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes;
  • and people needed to provide other medical or emergency services.

Under the revised regulations, carriers are still recommended to oversee their drivers’ day to day operations. Drivers become responsible for monitoring their own ability to perform with the stipulation that they take a minimum 24 hour break after 14 consecutive days of operation.

Drivers are not restricted regarding interprovincial travel and are exempt from the 14-day isolation period when returning to Saskatchewan unless they are experiencing symptoms.