Washington — Under legislation recently reintroduced in the Senate, agricultural and livestock haulers would receive extended exemptions from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service regulations.
Sponsored by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act (S. 3552) would:
- Eliminate the requirement that HOS exemptions for ag and livestock haulers apply only during state-designated planting and harvesting seasons.
- Amend and clarify the definition of “agricultural commodities.”
- Authorize for ag haulers a 150 air-mile exemption from HOS requirements on the destination side.
The bill’s expanded definition of “agricultural commodities” would include:
- Any nonprocessed product planted or harvested for food, feed, fuel or fiber
- Any nonhuman living animal, including fish, insects and livestock
- Nonprocessed products of any nonhuman living animal, including milk, eggs and honey
- Nonprocessed forestry, aquacultural, horticultural and floricultural commodities
- Fresh or minimally processed fruits and vegetables
- Animal feed, including ingredients
In a press release, Fischer claims the legislation clears “burdensome regulations” to ensure “ag products reach consumers in a safe and timely manner.”
National Grain and Feed Association President and CEO Mike Seyfert offers support for the bill in a separate release.
“Hauling grain and feed is time-critical, dependent on weather and market conditions, and needs to be done efficiently and safely,” Seyfert said. “The HAULS Act goes a long way toward giving agricultural haulers the flexibility they need to do their jobs without compromising safety.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Fischer sponsored similar legislation in 2020 and 2021. Despite bipartisan support, neither bill advanced out of the committee stage.
