Shortages of diesel fuel throughout Colorado may be eased through an exception from motor carrier hours-of-service regulations by Col. Mark V. Trostel, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

"Under Colorado law, the Chief of the Colorado State Patrol has the authority to suspend temporarily certain motor carrier regulations for intrastate shipments," notes Joe Morales, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety. "With the agreement of Gov. Bill Owens, the Chief temporarily suspended regulations that limit the number of hours that can be worked by motor carriers and drivers hauling diesel fuel," says Morales. The suspension was effective at 5 p.m. on Aug. 4 and runs until 5 p.m. Aug. 18.

On August 4 Gregory D. Fulton, President of the Colorado Motor
Carriers Association, in a letter to Chief Trostel requested the assistance
of the State Patrol in allowing carriers who transport diesel fuel to
suspend hours-of-service regulations temporarily in order to avert "the
severe consequences that may result to our state's economy and communities" from fuel shortages. Chief Trostel acted to suspend the regulations
temporarily the same day.

Suspension of the hours-of-service regulations will help motor carriers
deliver more fuel to suppliers throughout the state, says Morales.

"This same-day action was made possible with the efforts of the Colorado
State Patrol, the Colorado Motor Carriers Association and the Office of
Gov. Bill Owens working closely together," says Morales.

Lance Clem is the public information officer at the Colorado Department of Public Safety.