Feds Reject Plan for Longer Livestock Hauls on Highways

Livestock groups are disappointed about a regulatory decision by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration denying an exemption application over hours-of-service rules for hauling livestock.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) handed down the decision Monday to deny an application from several livestock and agricultural groups over the hours-of-service (HOS) rules.

The livestock groups asked FMCSA back in 2019 to allow a total of 15 hours in a 16-hour period. Right now, livestock haulers are permitted to drive in an exemption zone of 150-mile radius to a destination that doesn’t count toward HOS limits. The livestock groups requested to add the 15-hour drive limit outside of that 150 air-miles radius. The request applied to all livestock, insect and aquatic animal haulers and their drivers.

Typically, HOS limits drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers are required to at least a 30-minute break after driving for eight cumulative hours. Drivers may not drive beyond 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty.

Groups making the request were the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Livestock Marketing Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association and the National Aquaculture Association.

The livestock groups said the maximum driving and on-duty limits under the HOS rules could place livestock at risk and impose more burdens on livestock haulers in rural areas of the country.

Source: DTN