While most truckers are constrained to strict Hours of Service (HOS) compliance rules, there are a few segments of the industry which get a little more wiggle room. Now, the powerful ag lobby is petitioning to expand its already generous exemptions. The new exemption being considered by the FCMSA would allow livestock haulers at least 18 hours of on-duty time per day.
Multiple agricultural groups have filed a petition with the FMCSA for a further exemption from HOS rules.
Currently, truckers are allowed a 14-hour on-duty period per day with a limit of 11 hours spent behind the wheel. Ag haulers are hoping to expand that to a 16-hour on-duty period, 15 hours of which can be spent behind the wheel.
This is separate from the exemption which already allows ag haulers to operate without HOS restrictions within 150 air-miles of their origin point. So even if a trucker was driving 75mph in a perfectly straight line away from their pickup, they would still have an extra 2 hours of on-duty time in addition to their 16 hours once the clock starts.
Groups signing the exemption request include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Livestock Marketing Association; American Farm Bureau Federation; American Beekeeping Federation; American Honey Producers Association; and the National Aquaculture Association.
You can comment on the exemption request here until March 8th, 2019.
Source: overdrive, regulations.gov
Shogun says
Here come the whiners and complainers. Expect the following comments:
Team, Make them run Team!!!!
NO Exemptions! All or None!
I saw a cow truck wreck once, that means they are unsafe!
Livestock yards placed along the the highway every ten miles so they can stop and let them graze.
Meat is murder! No more livestock industry!!!
And as you read those upcoming comments, just remember the people posting them never hauled cattle and have ZERO experience and knowledge about how the industry works.
Ryan says
Knowing the argument that someone might give does not make your position credible.
shogun says
I’ll put my experience in cattle hauling against your pseudo intellect and Intro to Logic course any day.
Deez nutz says
And you would still be the inbred in the conversation.
Shogun says
Clever. Did you use both brain cells to come up with it?
Deez nutz says
Awesome answer
Shogun says
Glad they finally got WiFi in the prison, Deez Nutless. How long til you’ve served out that beastiality charge?
Km says
I agree that livestock haulers do need more time..but do they have to be such @$$# on the road?
That’s my only comment 😂
E.M. ROBERTS says
hahahahaha
Jerald Hite says
But we know how teaming works. You can run within the rules just like everyone else runs. All the other bs your talking means nothing.
Shogun says
You should have prefaced your state,ent with “I know absolutely nothing about cattle hauling”.
Jaylon says
If you like meat shut up 3/4 of use will not run team so no more meat there will be no one to haul it
Mike says
Teams are the way to go, and the law should apply to everyone equally. Your job isn’t as gard as you make it out to be. You are not special.
Jay says
One size fits ALL! If medical supplies and baby formula can wait, so can animals! The produce is rotting on docks and the cattle can die!
Mark Rosser says
Just get an older truck. Like i did. No worries be happy. 👍
Will says
If we have to figure out how to run within the HOS rules so can they.
common sense says
great, more time now maybe they can slow down. no need for the wannabe outlaws flying by at 85mph just to get that extra load in.
Douglas B Edwards says
No winners and losers I need more time also , I lose time searching for a place to park every day so I won’t be harrased by the police. You can run team or find another way to make a living, I can’t make my truck disappear for 10 hours
Cookie says
Why don’t we all just stop pissing and whining and everyone pull together and the ELD will go away!!! And things will be back the way it was ! All we got to do is take one vacation day all on the same day ! I’m in the bus business for entertainment and it (ELD) is killing us . That’s why concert tickets are going up we have to fly drivers out now on long runs . I will park all 15 of mine to help .
Calvin says
I’m just wondering why in the hell would anybody want to work 16 or 18 hours a day you obviously aren’t making enough money how about getting that pay increase instead of working yourself to death
Jaylon says
This I agree with this
Gordon Parks says
cause we love it and we are true blue American
Scott Brown says
Sir, it’s not a job to us it’s a way of life. Most livestock haulers have farms and cattle, we haul cattle to supplement farm income. Those hours r just a normal day for us either in a truck or on our farms. It’s just how we work. We love our jobs or we would not do it. It’s not for everyone
Flash says
If you have a big enough Lunch Box does at consider you agricultural Iexempt.?? 🤔 Just asking for future c.b. Radio arguments.😉
Buck says
I agree we all play by the same rules or you don’t play. So suck it up bull haulers you’re no better than the rest of us. If you don’t like the rules get out of that industry that simple.
Jaylon says
Try hauling cows
Jaylon says
It’s not us it’s the beef council
Tucker says
This actually scares me. That is wildly unsafe. Next thing you know they’ll announce that bull boys will be allowed to do meth while driving.
Kevin says
Typical uneducated freight hauler response. I’ve been hauling cattle for over 35 yrs. Never had an accident. Meth use runs rampant in all phases of trucking. Not just cow haulers. Most cow haulers are experienced at thier task. Not the same with freight haulers. 2 weeks of training and on your way. That particular genre of trucking needs to be monitored.
Gil Williams says
I’m experienced at truckin , I think I should be able to run my lubricant loads straight through , that way the first responders got oil in their vehicles to go get the overturned sheep trucks . Does the guvmunt know how sheep haulers stay awake ? Probably not .
Jaylon says
It is not meth it’s good old water
Wolfie says
How did you get experienced? Wait I know, YOU were born a DANGEROUS Driver. No one gets exemption, if it is unsafe for one, it is unsafe for all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roberto Lopez says
Thank you !well said
Dan Bryson says
I Guess this is all about who has the most lobbying money, and not about safety. I have over 5 million miles safe driving and had to take the hit on my business and a lot less home time with my family. I shouldn’t be surprised government is involved making sure we all drive like we started driving yesterday.
wonderkins says
I see no issue with extending the time since they’re dealing with livestock.
But won’t that still mean running all way to the last few minutes of your time? Kind of like the more you make the more you spend.
Once the drivers get used to 18 hour days, will it still be enough time? And would off duty hours remain at 10 hrs?
wonderkins says
I see no issue with extending the time since they’re dealing with livestock.
But won’t that still mean running all way to the last few minutes of your time? Kind of like the more you make the more you spend.
Once the drivers get used to 18 hour days, will it still be enough time? And would off duty hours remain at 10 hrs?
Name says
18 and 6
Joey says
Can’t make the cattle suffer so get over it freight haulers you wouldn’t understand anyways
Joe Barilari says
I love the idea that cattle can’t suffer on their way to the slaughterhouse..
I know why, I haul bees, I get it.
But it’s still a fantastically funny argument to have with the less informed.
Enjoy, eat more beef!
R says
Why should anyone have to drive over 11 to make a living
Jaylon says
You are very right it’s stupid
common sense says
stay the heck away from me on the highway if you’re working 18 straight hours and getting 4-5 hours (at the most) of sleep. no way you’re going to be fully rested to drive an 80k vehicle.
STEVEN Wiseman says
If your in the way and they cant pass on the left , they take the shoulder and pass that way all the while damn near running you off the road in the process
Rogue says
Well, swifty stay out of the left lane…
Roberto Lopez says
Common sense. Thank you!well said
Walt says
You can’t find qualified people to haul almost anything now days much less cattle so how are you going to find a team to put in every truck I agree with the two brain cells my gosh think about it for a little bit !!!
STEVEN Wiseman says
Easy , illegal immigration!
Jimmy says
If they keep making exemptions then I guess it’s not really about safety is it
Stroe's says
Good for the ag exempt drivers. Maybe if we all stuck together we could get some HOS flexibility. Instead of tearing one another down. I would like to see a 16 hour day start your clock go 16 hours and don’t have any duty status. When the clock is up it’s up. 8 hrs off and go again. Get rid of the 34 hr. restart, 30 min break. All useless stuff that has been proven not to reduce fatigue or stress. Run 16 hrs driving,loading, unloading, fueling, eating,take a nap, etc. but when the clock is out It’s out…All you show is where your day started and finished.
Flacrkr says
How about the government bureaucrats stick to their cubicles and leave the working man the hell alone.
Mike says
I have made a lot more money since the ELD went into effect as an owner operator. I do find myself rushing more with a eld’s though.
Jjags says
18 hours days!!!!! Wow, there’s safety written all over that. Pea brain or well bribed govt trolls to make this happen
Randy Swopes says
Thats all we need is more tired cow haulers out on the road…
In the last year or so more and more wreaks have been put on facebook showing there just as bad as a swift driver…
You know the pig haulers have figured out how to do it why not the cattle haulers.. watched them in brush, Colorado switch power units on a load and go on down the road..