A significant waiver of parts of the hours of service, somewhat similar to the exemption owner-operator Schmitt is requesting, has been in place now for years for haulers of commodities moved in direct-assistance efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic and after-effects. Almost a third of respondents to recent polling noted they continued to rely on that waiver, exempting them from drive time limits in parts of the hours of service, for almost every load since significant changes came into play last year. Another fifth of respondents continued to rely on the waiver at least occasionally.