DOT releases guidance; reaffirms no new regulations for farmers

Washington – The Department of Transportation on Aug. 10 released guidance to help states understand the agricultural community’s exemptions from certain transportation regulations.

The guidance (.pdf file) was released after some farmers expressed concern that certain states may be enforcing regulations on agricultural operators when an exemption should be applied. States are tasked with carrying out farm exceptions to transportation regulations.

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood stressed in a statement that DOT has no intention of issuing new regulations on the farm community.

Included in the guidance was clarification on three issues:

• Farmers who rent their land in a crop-share or other similar arrangement should be exempt from commercial driver’s license requirements when they haul their own and their landlord’s crops to market.
• States have adopted commonsense enforcement practices allowing farmers to move equipment to and from their fields on public roads.
• New regulatory guidance on the difference between interstate and intrastate commerce is not necessary.