Livestock and insect haulers are currently exempt from the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate. Livestock haulers have been given one exemption after another, but now the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that they are exempt from ELD requirements “until further notice.”
A new notice was posted on the FMCSA website:
“Transporters of livestock and insects are not required to have an ELD. The statutory exemption will remain in place until further notice. Drivers do not need to carry any documentation regarding this exemption.”
The livestock exemption was put in place by congress using a funding bill. But now that it looks like the government might shut down over a new budget deal, the future of the exemption was uncertain. Unable to pass legislation on its own, the FMCSA decided to just publish the notice on its website. It will still be legally binding, but may cause confusion from an enforcement standpoint.
While this was likely meant as a temporary stopgap, its indefinite timeline means that the FMCSA could choose to simply leave this guidance in place permanently until the ELD rule can be reworked to properly serve all commercial drivers. It could also just as easily be rescinded as soon as a new budget is passed which includes another extension of the ELD exemption with a finite expiration date.
Source: FMCSA, overdrive, freightwaves
I’m looking forward to the impractical solutions we are about to hear in the comments from people who never hauled livestock and know nothing about how the industry works.
Build barns by the highway.. Use reefer trailers with vent holes. Teams, make them run teams. Industrial strength drones that deliver the cows. Ban the consumption of red meat, turkey burgers for all!
You know that’s just nonsense. If ELDs are required for one then they are required for all. No exceptions. In theory the hrs of service are the same across the board. So what is were really saying here. It’s ok for livestock to break rules but no one else? The ELD is a overreach but to say this or that truck dosen’t have to comply is BS. Not to mention most of what yall do is shot haul anyway. And yes there are PLENTY of options. No cost effective but you have options. Just like the rest of us. By the way do you even have appointments or go places your told you can’t stay here and park after unloading?
Obviously you do not know the rules. Livestock haulers are given a 150 air mile exemption from their first pickup point. Until you pass the 150 air mile (172 statute miles) you are not logging your time. An ELD has no way to account for that. The only way is through paper logs.
That’s the same short haul rule that it always been. However they made everyone else short hauling go ELD. No argument to be had.
How is it different from paper logs to eld’s in my past under the air mile rule you don’t even keep a proper log it’s just bs that you think your special over everyone else
I’m within the 150 air mile rule an I don’t run ELD bc the law says you don’t have too less cost for me and I’m home daily I wouldn’t go over the road again with the ELD too much stress an BS
An ELD picks up movement after 50 feet..!! 150 miles, yell, it would have you on duty driving/ on duty. 14 hour clock done ticking 149 miles ago..! ELD’s need to go away for all..!! Not safe Racing Time..! Proven fact. Highway safety is at an all time high now, but it’s not about safety/! Money and big companies controlling it all. No freedom of choice for Drivers. It was a lot better in the ole days, ..Drive your miles then park for sleep, stop and eat when hungry.. a peaceful day of driving by choice..!! Your Choice/ not theirs..! That’s the point.!! Our Choice….
Obviously you’re never hauled livestock. We can’t just stop for 10 hours to take a break. We cannot leave animals on a trailer for 30-40+ hours because of regulations. Let’s see you go 24 hours without eating or drinking and stuffed into a small compartment with your fellow friends. Livestock needs to stay moving for the animals well being. Teams are not needed because there is not enough long hauls year round to keep a team that busy,
Unfortunately, the bureaucrats that come up with this stuff are seldom grounded or experienced in reality.
First off all yeah i have pulled livestock so quit using that line on everyone. Sure you have a few long distance run a year but most of mine were less than 500 miles as I’m sure yours are too so stop using the well being of the animal as and excuse also. The fact is the livestock acc. Have a huge lobbying staff who knew a government shutdown was looming and used it to there advantage. As you know and i know also most if not all livestock haulers break all the rules most speed and falsify there logbooks so if any segment of the trucking industry needs eld’s its the livestock haulers. For years now most livestock companies stayed under the required number of drivers so they would be excepmt from random drug texting which was another rule the livestock acc. Lobbied strong for and got there wish. Its time for a one size fits all law on all enitys of the transportation business.
500 miles maybe first of the week. 800+ other times. And what sensible person suggests one size fits all for such a diverse and dynamic industry?
Well that’s all well and good, but the point is for livestock, this has been the cheapest way to ship. The methods & training for those drivers has remained the same, its a small club. The shippers involved are NOT interested in costs going up, or their lives or profit being impacted. As you know, all the rules go on the driver, the shippers could give a shit if you are out of hours, need a place to park etc. same old same ol. But worse cause you have live, perishable beasts and if one dies, who gets blamed? Throw in the tight schedule required by the USDA for the animals well being, perfect storm of pressure on the drivers. Not to mention some of those requirements are in conflict with hours of service, 30
Minute break after 4 hours etc so their ELDs would have to be programmed differently.
Also you ignore (as ELD proponents do) that every driver is different. I had a friend who trained me before FMCSA happened (2004). He ran 3 logs off and on for 30 years, no wreaks…16 hours of driving was no big deal to him. Not me, 10
Hours and I’m done, & I need to sleep all 10 break hours as well.
Huge variations there.
1000’s of small carriers are being driven out of trucking because 1 truck & 1 trailer can’t compete with the Swift’s etc, 3 trailers per truck, drop & hook. FMCSA was and is a total sham to benefit the monster carriers, the ELDs being the final nail. All they want is hi driver turnover (though the driver shortage is having some effect on that strategy) cause payroll is, after fuel, their biggest expense.
Crashed trucks? Tax write off.
The big carriers all train now, but
Look at their benefit from that, my trainer (I stopped and then got my license back again) had only driven for 6 months, but was paid for all my miles & his! Sooo …instead of practicing backing, Swift ran us like an air freight team, that truck never stopped, especially once they found I had previous experience & was a 10 hours in the seat kinda guy.
All these rookie drivers, I’m sorry but some things only experience can teach. Like common sense
Or good judgement. It’s NOT a safety law, a few weeks of training will get you a CDL, don’t mean you’re really a driver.
I personally like ELDs perfect for my driving style, but one size does not fit all.
ELD exemption should apply to ALL Ag products moving…and if you are a one man show…you don’t need the hassel of the ELD..SAFETY…ha…look at all the trucks parked any damn where they can find a spot..rest areas are a war zone after dark…parking clear out on the roadway…just scrap the DAMN ELD and get the government out of every damn body’s business. If ya pay your taxes..that is all they need to know!!!!!!!!!!
You obviously have a personal problem with those of us that haul livestock. You are incorrect on a few of your comments. Like number of employees for drug testing. It doesn’t matter if you have one or 1000 you must be in a consortium and submit to random tests. Also just because we are not in the middle lane holding up traffic doesn’t mean we are speeding. And my last point , all jobs and people are not the same. Why is it that we cant use common sense. If you are tired rest. As for all of us breaking the law..27 years check my FMCSA my mvr or anything else you choose. You wont find a cleaner record. So stop with the jealous spiteful BS. You do your thing and we will do ours.
The problem with this is that ELD’s are a tool to enforce the laws. Livestock haulers STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAWS!
By not requiring them to have ELD’s, they are only making it EASIER for livestock haulers to BREAK THE LAW AND NOT GET CAUGHT.
If you are a livestock hauler and are not fighting this exemption you are an idiot because all you are doing is making it easier to cheat and then get caught. THE HOS LAWS need to change, not the method of catching people who break the HOS laws.
First off we all know National Beef and other producers have changed the way cows are moved. That was about 10 years ago. Secondly the rules apply the same to us all if you can’t afford teams then that’s a whole other problem. But let’s just be honest cows move at a higher rate per mile then just about anything out here. You have no reasonable excuse just like the rest of us. Only difference is the Beef industry is donating to the right politician. The hours of service haven’t changed so how were you doing it before Eld. I guess you’ve never unloaded cows and had to rest them and reload them? I really wish there was a excuse we all could use but there simply just not one.
Yup, it’s all about the bribery, but one rule for an industry So diverse, with so many different requirements makes little sense.
FMCSA benefits the huge carriers
& impoverishs everybody else.
ELD’s are an overreach by government paid for by YOU GUESSED IT mega carriers in an attempt to acquire more customers and freight based on size and ability to keep theload moving. So you should be fighting against the ELD’s just like we are.
Basically if you’re a trucker you’re caught in the middle of a financial pissing match where crooked politicians are raking in millions of dollars and promising victory to whoever is willing to dole out the most cash! There are simple and logical solutions to HOS laws and the whole ELD’s mandates but as long as crooked politicians see financial gains there will never be a satisfactory change that we all can agree upon. These laws should be written with guidance from long term drivers (men and women) who have a record of safety of at least 10 years. People who have to abide by the laws that are written. People from every aspect of the industry. Livestock, reefer, dry van, tankers and so forth because they know what it takes to perform their particular job safely.
Is there any rules for lifestock haulers at all?
Aren’t you stretching your side of the story a bit? I have driven for thirty hours plus non- stop many, many times and I am still here. In the 60s & 70s if you were not willing to put in a 20 hour driving day, you were out of a job. This seems to be the era of “I am special so I need to be treated special”.
Your absolutely right, no one driver is the same. Problem is the lack of responsibility and revenue collecting DOT. What’s not being said here is cow haulers definitely played a part in the ELD being mandated. It’s a money thing at the end of the day. For now you can still buy trucks that don’t require it.
Yes, the industry did just fine before FMCSA and the roads were safer, the drivers older and more experienced. Now they want to recruit even younger drivers, safety is not their concern
Just profit
That was before drug testing though. Most truckers were taking 357’s, black beauties, or stirring a bump of coke into their coffee. Anyone who says different is full of B.S. or too young to remember the good old days.
One solution! Drop and hook relays, keeps drivers legal and livestock moving ,there’s always a solution, but you closed minded cattle haulers are use to breaking all the laws anyway so what does it matter
Ever looked at a cattle pot? You don’t drop them loaded. Giving your trailer to someone you don’t know isn’t smart either.
Where are you going to do that in say, Montana? Expense per load would be higher, god solution? yes. Same cost? No, it would be higher, they won’t
That’s what those shippers are lobbying for!
Quit trying to haul so many loads when your hours are close your done just like the plain joe trucker is
Yep..! They don’t know much about it. Barely know about paper logs.. let alone livestock.!
Yes,we do have appointments.
Yes there are lots of places where we cannot stay overnight or arrive too early. I agree its BS that the government and trucking giants are messing with the industry. Hopefully time will show its an expensive ineffective requirement. But I’m afraid it will be like DEF proven not too do anything positive but here to stay apparently. So if you don’t like it buy an exempt truck. If you do like them be happy and and drive on.
I’m not even a livestock hauler and know they can’t leave these animals in the trailers like that. They need to get them from point A to point B and off the trailers into holding pens. Whether it’s at Tyson for slaughter or just another waiting stop. Get a clue. Maybe put yourself in a kennel for 3 days with no food/ water & sitting in your own waste🙄
They actually can be on the trailer for 28 hrs before law requires a break for water etc. Producers have changed the way this is done for some years now. More feed lots, shorter loads. Theres really no argument to be had here. Pay up and put a team in the truck or do something else. Same options the rest of us were given. It’s more of trying to get around the rules than actually animal rights. None of us like elds but cow haulers have no more right to exemptions than anyone else. You can’t use the animals as an excuse. Besides have you seen how there transport? It’s not the Hilton that’s for sure. It really comes down to money which is dead lose. Shrinkage etc. All this is overcomable without driving 20 hrs a day.
I haul cattle and my runs are generally short and I run legally. The fight is not about breaking rules it’s about our rights to run a business our way. To not be forced into something we don’t want or approve of. Apparently we are the only ones with the balls to fight back!
Some not all ELD’s can communicate with computers over satellite and send and receive engine and mechanical data. Performance enhancing changes can be made from an office somewhere over this satellite link. Think how many trucks are on the road with this capability. Push button electrical gear selection electric brains for everything. Now take into account that an American college has figured out how to hack the computer (by hard wire of course) without manufacturers programming and manipulate engine acceleration and deceleration. If this can be done by a bunch of kids what is stopping a terrorism attack over the same satellite? Can you imagine if all trucks were made to go to maximum acceleration at once? Luckily I drive a stick and would be gear bound or able to get out of gear. Not so lucky for full electric trucks. How many people would die? No I’m not a prepper or conspiracy nut. I just like to be left alone and do things my way
you do not know if they are breaking the rules or not You do not see livestock hauler in accidents like you do these freight haulers especially in construction zones read ending 4 wheelers either because there dozing or playing with there phone
We should go back to cattle drives on horseback. We could have chicken drives on horseback. Don your bee suit, mount your horse and herd them bees to the crops!
Chicken drives on horse back? The closest you have ever been to a chicken is the fried chicken on the buffet.
It’s the HOURS Act, an exemption only good for no more than 150 miles from the originating location-what good is that within 14 hours.
the first 150 “air” miles don’t count towards the 14 hrs. It could take you 6 hours to do the first 150, which was the case last week…
How do we know those are real turkey burgers shot gun?
If they make you sleepy afterwards, it’s definitely turkey.
Lol no sooner you spoke and the freight haulers are crying. Obviously they have no idea the time sensitive task of hauling livestock and ag.
It is very practical to put two drivers on every truck hauling livestock.
WHAT ABOUT PRODUCE!!!!!!!!!!! FOOD SAFETY . WE ARE STILL BE HELD UP AND THE DOCKS. COME ON NOW FRESH FOOD SHOULD GET THE SAME TREATMENT!.
I agree Lady Doe. That’s why I stopped hauling produce. You spend more time at the docks then it takes to make the trip. 😡 I’ll still take it to help the company out, but it’s rare.
That’s true I do spend way to much time at the docks.
#freshfood matters.
The eld is just another stupid idea by government employees busy watching porn.
government watching porn. are you keeping that camera aimed at you and some other human. its suppose to be aimed at the highway.
Well, at least it will be easy to know what trucks are cheating on their logs.
The solutions are impractical for all of us. Livestock is no exception, we all are forced to comply. To say this company or that doesn’t have to is borderline unconstitutional. Before you say well we haul animals that have to be off the trailer by certain times. There are and always have been solutions to that problem. Bottom line if one of us has to have it we ALL have to have it. No stupid exceptions because you can’t figure it out. None of us wanted to figure it out.
You sound like a hater lol
Lol, it’s kinda cool I feel like we should get some extra pay along with the exemption. kinda starting to feel like part of the government. Special rules, above, the law, altering paper work. Heck maybe I could get a intern.
35 years ago I worked for a company that did FARMING. Guess what FARMS ARE EXEMPT from HOURS on PAY. There is no OVERTIME ON THE FARM. Guess that is why I did not stay. 6 day week was too much.
so now you are forced to work 70 hrs a week in a truck
Aren’t most of the animals being transported to the slaughterhouse anyway ?
No we ship show horses. Also bees and fish are included.
Yeah Shawn, kinda like having to have sterile needles when we inject the poison into death penalty recipients.
Umm no. LOTs of cattle get moved to different feed lots as they grow up. They get moved from the ranches to the first feed lots. Then get sold to anorher until they reach their weight to be slaughtered. 8/10 loads I haul are just moving from one from to another.
Yeah, but animals that die enroute are now owned by the trucker.
That would be OK, but McDonalds doesnt take them with the hide and hoofs still attached….
The EOD is not so much the problem as it is the laws governing when we can and cannot drive. Simply put the hours need to go back to 10 on 8 off and allow split logs, with no 14 hour rule and or something similar. There has to be more flexibility because both individuals, schedules, and driving conditions are not always the same.
I haul beans that feed the world. I should be exempt because people might starve. Lol!!
The point is. One gets exempt then maybe another. Then maybe another
Careful there truckers….most of these comments are written by folks that know as much about hauling livestock as the bureaucrats y’all are complaining about. If you think livestock haulers are getting an unfair break, buy a cow trailer, show us how it’s done…
How us that haul livestock feed and other related farm products.. livestock must eat to stay healthy and alive…
ELD is nothing but the large trucking companies trying to eliminate the small trucking companies.. and the governments way to control the trucking industry.
Unfortunate but true….
I agree with you Jim and is true the biggest company trying to eliminate the small companies. The problem is the biggest companies pass money down to the table to senator and congress every thing is the big mafia
The solution is simple. The fmcsa needs to do its job. Either get rid of the ELD for everyone and let us all run how we run. Or put the ELD in place for everyone but redo the hours of service so they work. If livestock haulers need HOS rules different for them then write it that way. It comes down to fmcsa do you job. We truckers do ours every day, and because you haven’t done yours we are forced to find unique ways to get ours done, because we actually want to work and do our job.
That would require actual WORK, on the part of the porn-watching bureaucrats…
Mike this is best comment I’ve read. I’m glad you get it. Most on here don’t. The ELD is a device to catch people breaking HOS laws. Not requiring an ELD does NOT exempt you from the HOS laws, it only gives you a false confidence that you can break the HOS laws and not get caught.
Most of you probably haven’t even payed attention to your 14 hour clock anyway when you take a half hour break it keeps running so therefore your only getting a 13 1/2 hour day
there not even working that sometimes because you cannot always work up to the last minute to find a place to park
I hope they do away with the 1/2 hour break, it screws me every day, can’t stop where I want to, have to stop where I’m forced to.
If it’s unsafe for one driver, it’s unsafe for all drivers. It’s just stupid to put the lives of people on the highway in danger because we’re trying to protect a cow, chicken, or pig. Food safety or animal rights; it’s not mpre important than highway safety.
And the exception shoukd apply to HoS, not ELDs. HoS are the problem – are we saying that livestock haulers still have to folliw the HoS rules, but it’s okay if they cheat a little, as long as they don’t het caught? Either give them explicit permission to run, or not. Don’t tell them not to run, and then explicitly promise to look the other way. Even if we are granting an exception to the HoS, shouldn’t there still be a record of the hours that they do drive? And are livestock drivers some kind of superhumans that can drive longer than other drivers? Or are they just more trustworthy than everyone else?
Maybe we should deputize them all under DoT authority…
Mr Yowler
Thank you for writing what I was thinking. It’s not about ELD it’s about HoS. If we can only run so many hours because of safety, how can bull haulers run more hours safely? Teach us so we can be safe too!
Yep it’s called cocaine
What ever happened to equal treatment under the law?
Did livestock haulers get an exemption from having to obey posted speed limits as well? I’ve never seen one going remotely close to it.
I’d rather those cattle haulers hammer down and get to where they need to go. Think having to park by a reefer is bad during a 10.. Do it by a cattle hauler on a nice hot summer day.
Crybabies
HOS will become as ponderous as the 30+ THOUSAND page tax code…mostly because of exemptions for some….
Welp, oversize and heavy haul still has to go by permit, dot say so, and local law enforcement policies. Logs or no logs we are suck.
The simple solution is to run teams not make it every one else problem if you can’t make money doing it we all live by rules some make us money some don’t we been using eld
for a long time I haul Chemicals heck of a lot more dangerous then hauling cattle and we have more rules and regulations then you could ever imagine deal accordingly.
The solution is simple. However, we will never seen the true solution. It involves unity among truckers. You see ladies and gentlemen we don’t really have a driver shortage, problems with elds, and pay. The problem is we don’t stick together. This industry is so cut throat that we are at the mercy of dot, planners, and the absolute laziest, and most unorginized, shippers and receivers.I have been driving for just over a year but I still get amazed at how long some of these places take to get loaded or unloaded. I can’t speak for anyone else. But if I could run hard reset every week. I would be a happy driver. And all we would need to to to get all of our needs met, is plan the same vacation. There’s never been a better time. As for the livestock, I only ever hauled chickens for a short period of time. We used elds. But when laws became an issue we ignored them. Was kinda dumb to me. But getting loaded, was always impressive. Whether their was a 10 men and women team, or less. They caught those chickens made and assembly line, and as many as 5000 chickens were loaded by hand. In 500 coups in usually around 5 hours. So why do these shippers recievers take the same amount of time from our days to load 9 skids? They can. That’s why. Why do we sit on loads four hours? Because if we won’t someone else will. Wish we could stand for something, period. We are all too busy being selfish.
I’m not a livestock hauler and I never want to be but from day 1 of this position eld mandate I have spoken up for LSH’s. And for those of you throwing a hissy fit cuae “it’s not fair” , let me explain something to you. The drivers are hauling precious cargo. Animals that are ALIVE. In all kinds of shitty weather with no way to protect them from it. And not just weather conditions are the concern. These drivers have to stop every couple of hours to check the animals, make sure they’re not on their sides or gotten their legs stuck. They supposed to let the animals out to walk around a bit during their rest break but their aren’t enough places left that allow this. The animals are suffering the longer their in that hauler. That’s why it’s imperative to get them from point A to point B as quickly and safely as necessary. No ELD for these haulers means they don’t have to keep stopping and losing precious time and add more stress to the animals. LSH’s should never have had that mandate put on them, period. I’m happy for them. I just hope it becomes permanent. Remember, it’s not about the drivers, it’s about the precious cargo.
The way I look at it somebody that is smart will take it to a Court and sue because changing HOS for the bull hauler means means it’s not a safety issue because they already don’t record all their hours because of their other duties of animal care
Truckers should all stop hauling till everyone understands you can’t run down the road on a nickel. That would solve HOS issues and maintenance issues and then DOT issues. Freightforwarders and mills are run by a bunch of jokers that are akin to vultures.
Livestock & grain haulers drive & act as if they are a “privileged” class of driver & now I see they are..
Damn, I need to get in good with a farmer or cow hauler and learn to haul livestock so I can jump back in a large ride like I use to when I hauled produce and other perishable foods so I can join the group of exempted hands 👍
I think someone should sue on these grounds. The Constitution prohibits disparity of treatment unless there’s a rational basis for the unequal treatment. The rationale basis to justify the ELD exemption to certain drivers can also be said about those not exempt. ANALOGY: Gun control for example. That’s like saying a new gun law only applies to certain gun owners while certain others it doesn’t apply to. How much sense would that make without a rational basis?
Yes, yes we are safer. Most cattle haulers I’ve been running with don’t have their phones up in their face while going down the freeway. I’ve seen countless frieght haulers driving like 4 wheelers weaving through lanes with their phones and steering wheels in the same hand. Until y’all figure that part out then enjoy ELD’s.
Quit your wining cry baby
I haul raw milk. I originally was grandfathered under the ELD exemption but they dropped that part of it. So now they want to get the cows to the farm, but not the milk off of it. Typical government picking winners and losers. That milk can only be in the trailer so long before it goes bad, produce has time limits, lots of stuff is time sensitive. If we have to risk our products, so should the livestock haulers. Interestingly, the fatal accident statistics for truckers in 2017 came out this week, and as ELD’s have become more common, the number of fatal truck accidents have increased exponentially. Just remember that the next time the Anti Trucking Association says they’re for “safety”.
You are over qualified to be driving a truck. You understand the issue..We need you in management..
Eld implementation has nothing to do with safety. Money will always override safety.
Sounds like a line of BS if you ask me,I’ve been driving for 44 years and still at it,this HOS and the ELDs is a way for this government,the courts and the police departments around this country and Canada to make large amounts of money to fund their cause their jobs,think about something here for a minute or two .i have traveled all 48 states a number of times and I have seen how this crap works in this country,80 percent evolves around money 10 percent on safety and the remaining on who’s going to be put in the history books as a do gooder before dying,you can blame yourselfs outside the government and the courts as well as the other organizations who been put these people into the government and courts to impose these restrictions on the general public,mostly the Commercial Vehicles simply because that where their biggest funding comes from that and the fact if you really think about it,these people who impose these rules have nothing in common with us,except that they and us are out here to make a million,sure I believe in safety but if you’re going to put restrictions on vehicles and people both it is to be on all with no exceptions what so ever,I believe we need a huge overhaul of this government and courts in this country,this thing we call a free society has gotten out of hand so far that’s it’s no longer a free society,it’s a controlling society just like the Communist Society and I’m not too sure that the people who get into our government and courts aren’t looking at how the use to be Communist Society works or worked and decided that it could vary well work right here in this government as well but won’t call it that,,think about this,this is or suppose to be a free Democratic government but it allows the criminal minded people to get into it or use it to their advantage,that’s the biggest problem with a Free Democratic Government,the law breakers are in this government giving themselves the right to break every law or rules
well I see the mega carriers have brainwashed these drivers into believing that ELD are actually for safety.. what kind of drunk driver in their right mind would be in favor of a ELD.. someone who works for a ATA carrier..
Great. Now I have to worry about coked up cattle jockeys running me off the road again. “you’ve never hauled livestock so shut up.” True but I have be side-swiped by a pig hauler because he didn’t want to be behind me in a construction zone. I’m sick of you people.
man you need to take a chill pill!
It is inhumane to keep any animals cooped up for long periods of time even our bees. There should not be an ELD regulated load for livestock fowl and insect hauls. that is totally inhumane and to tell the truth companies could be sited for animal neglect and abuse.
No doubt most of these drivers have NEVER hauled livestock!
look people… it is like this. there are rules, some bend some break and some are meant to be broken. There isn’t one gov’t official that knows anything about trucking than what they have been told. That stuff won’t change…so how about we support at least eachother. I know for a fact that pepperoni on my truck is already dead and processed, but “LIVEstock” is in fact still alive. I am happy for the ones who get the pass. I can choose to go haul cattle, so can you. So go do that and shut up.
Congratulations bull-haulers!!! my haat is off to you
So why can’t livestock haulers have team drivers?
So are these drivers HOS exempt? Or just ELD exempt? Do they have to keep paper logs? If yes, does that mean they still have to take 10 hour sleeper break?
Or are they given carte Blanche to hammer down and endanger other motorist on the highway?
Why can’t all truckers have the exemption until FMCSA gets their act together? ‘Tis the season to be jolly!!!
Your confusing me Rr. I thought I figured it out but now all those questions are swirling around
Elogs are going to be implemented to promote safety on the highway. That is unless you are a livestock hauler, short haul under 150 air miles, drive a 1999 or older vehicle, it’s the 5th Sunday of the second month and there’s a full moon. Elogs were and idea brought to you by the Mega carriers with one thing in mind, drive the O/O and small trucking co.s out of business. That’s why they are lobbying like crazy to have speed limiters mandatory.
my truck already has a speed limiter.it’s my right foot!!!
If one aloud paper we all should be just stop trying to control everything we do and let us roll if we brake the law punish us but this eld needs to go away for good for all trucks if your 50 miles from home u go home what about if our clocks up we have to set what if we set 8 hours in traffic and only get 200 miles that day guess what as a driver 200 miles is garbage pay we still have to eat and live who ever came up with the elog set your ass in the seat for a week get that pay check for all them hours u have worked but dont get paid for set at a truck stop and try to sleep at 12 in the day then have to push yourself all night because that log doesn’t stop for a nap try it just set in that rig bet u want say it’s just driving agian let us work
“Safety is FMCSA’S top priority and having uniform rules is a key component to increasing safety for our truck drivers ”
Ray Martinez FMCSA administrator
Must be a different Ray Martinez!
good for all you livestock hauler’s!!!! i think it’s great you got the exemption.you did’nt give up and finally won the argument.something the rest of the industry should have done!! i’m exempt also because of the year of my truck but i think it should go by a driver’s record.good record of no speeding.no failed inspections,no log violations.etc.you get to stay on paper if not you’re on an eld!! it’s not about saftey it’s all about controlling a driver!
Some of you drivers, ” get it..”; you understand this industry, yet, sadly a vast majority do not.!! This is why trucking is terrible as a career for motivated, informed workers, and continues a race to the bottom..– It’s the WAY YOU ARE PAID..! –#- These endless conversations on XM Radio, FB forums, internet articles about ->> who has an ELD or who does not..?? Or who has driver facing cameras or who doesn’t? And Why can’t I find parking.?.etc, are just Red Herrings.! (Look it up.) Mileage pay is your problem.! Let that sink in. The carrier is a profit seeking entity. The shipper has the cargo and will continually seek lowering cost to ship and stay in business. The manufacturer is ever expecting lower cost of raw materials to stay price competitive with consumers..Basic economics in a capitistic country. — THE driver is an ecpense, in the accounting ledger, a liability, to all the previously listed businesses. The sooner autonomous trucks become viable, the sooner all they will be adopted by all the previously listed concerns. And they CAN afford to purchase NEW technologies. By firing you, & getting government incentives. Sure, drivers will be needed in different logistic situations, yet, the sun is setting on the driver workforce as you see it..! You should be working for the HIGHEST paid by mile carrier you can and try to be qualified to work for carriers who pay by the hour..there are many. (I’ve worked for several.!!) Because your earning power is limited..one last thing, Maybe your company pays you wait time at a dock. Hmm, $14/hr maybe. Seems that’s all your carrier values of your time. And do NOT get me started on the ATA *trucking association. They do NOT even have a membership one can sign up as a driver.! They represent the industry..not you.. If you work for one of their member carriers, then you deserve the problems you have. Thanks, travel safely.
ATA…what a joke claiming to speak for drivers…just ridiculous..! yesterday’s tweet to the Nation..anyone can find this —->>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeremy Kirkpatrick
December 21, 2018
703-838-1995
“ATA Applauds DOT for Common Sense Trucking Safety Ruling”
By Affirming National Driver Work Rules, DOT Puts Safety First
Arlington, Virginia — Today, the American Trucking Associations commended Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for granting the Federation’s petition to pre-empt confusing and duplicative state rest break rules, asserting the federal government’s critical role in regulating interstate commerce.
…
In late September, ATA petitioned DOT to pre-empt meal-and-rest break rules imposed by California, but primarily enforced via private lawsuits against motor carriers, on the grounds that a patchwork of rules related to driver hours of service harms safety, is in conflict with federal rules and causes “an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce.”
(NOW here’s THE beauty statement..You just have to laugh it this..))
…Spear said. “We hope today’s ruling will once and for all underscore the importance of a single, national standard for work and safety rules for professional drivers.”..
And of course they must put in a driver quote which supports their agenda against unions, against driver increased pay, against better home time. ->>>
“As a driver, being safe and well-rested is my primary concern,” said Derrick Whittle, a professional driver with Cargo Transporters Inc., “and having a single set of rules to follow whether I’m in California or Colorado makes it easier for me to do my job.”
Yes, DOT rules can be confusing, but Message to Derrick the driver, -PAY- for a safe, effective job done should be your primary concern. The smokescreen of safety by carriers is so sad. Just pay GOOD, for good drivers, and then monitor (fire) bad, careless drivers. Carriers will fight with all their might against a one cent raise. #paymebythehour And don’t be a dope.! Carriers AND drivers can still be profitable AND productive with hourly pay..But it takes a thinking change.
sure are a lot of cry babies here because they cannot run like a bull hauler
I totally get the thoughts of the animals well being… and I support that. However, it does not excuse the driving practices of the vast majority, yes the majority of the livestock haulers. I place you guys 2nd(marginally) only to tow truck drivers as being the most dangerous, wreckless and above all, selfish s.o.b’s on the highway. Also, when running empty, they should have more governance on them because thats typically when their most dangerous!
Livestock haulers get exemption because swift, schnider, werner, CR, or whatever other mega carrier has no interest in taking over cattle haul.
That being said, id rather have cattle haulers running hard and off the books then swift drivers….who agrees?
Also, for the record, i haul milk, and we to, are exempt.
Livestock and insects, more valuable than Professional Drivers!! Will it ever end. Our governments remarkable ineptitude is unbearable…
That’s the problem with government. It’s always a one size fits all program and our whole economy has turned into a niche market place. With many choices of the same product. I wish the masses would go back to supporting a small gov. Get the gov out of a majority of things.
The livestock haulers should embrace the ELD’s for lotta reasons one they’re hauling too cheap and they’re being abused but they don’t understand that ,they should hual less and make more but they’re going to continue to haul more and make less and the beef industry doesn’t want to get rid of their cheap freight.
they’re willing to let these drivers do what they do best drive their self in the ground and wear out their equipment with little to show for it!! They would have to build more packing plants closer to the feedlot and they would have to quit buying and selling cattle clear across the country. Believe me some of these runs are hell on driver and cattle especially in the middle of the summer! Anyway I could go on but that’s my two cents !
Too cheap? Please . The book of proverbs has a verse that reads, “for even an old fool can appear to be wise, for if he only knows when to keep his mouth shut”. Lol cheap freight. Not only am I a cow hauler. I’m of the very limited few, I’m a black cow hauler in Texas 3.85cpm in state, 4.15cpm, any state line i cross. Bet you a dollar to you’re dog biscuit you don’t make half that. Eld or no eld 500 miles gonna pay me same rate..(DAMN GUD). All you that hate cow haulers, you probably don’t know any. If you did you wouldn’t think that way. Definitely haven’t been on these highways long. You break down, we’re probably only ones that’ll even stop and offer you help. The hamburger you eat the steak you eat the meatloaf. I brought it. What if that cow had cold, a cough, or was flat out sick.. i don’t just drive , I also inspect for your saftey, reject for your saftey. Have you ever loaded cattle ? On a hot summer day? Let the top of your head touch ceiling of trailer without a hat on bud. You will only do it 1 time for sure. Its definitely a heat box. Imagine 74 head in there crammed with that heat and body heat. If government let them die like that for eld imagine how they would let you die…. you or anyone can reply to me directly on tiktok @ bullwagonbully my name is Eightball
This exemption isn’t really in place for you down the road 150 mile haulers. Or even the 500 mile haulers. If you can’t run 500 a day then you slacking anyway. I’ve been trucking 20+ years. “You won’t find a better rate than cattle 3.85 a mile.” Cows for about 7 years now. Yes us long haulers ride. We have to. Florida cattle runs almost year round. Length of haul is 1500 to 1800 average. And alot of us do 2 turns a week just to keep up with amount of cattle moving. Its not for everyone, not everyone can do it. Nor do they want to. It all goes back to if it broke dont fix it. And how much government do you want in your life. Me as little as possible. And the way I’ve been working, works fine for me.