FMCSA Waives Trucking Rules to Speed Fertilizer Deliveries

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a Temporary Waiver of certain trucking regulations for drivers hauling fertilizer, citing concerns about fertilizer availability during the growing season.  The waiver, now through August 26th, applies to motor carriers transporting straight or blended fertilizer products for commercial farming and ranching operations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and 32 other states.

The agency said the action was taken in coordination with USDA to address an urgent fertilizer supply shortfall. 

Under the waiver, drivers are exempt from federal hours-of-service limits and electronic logging device requirements that normally govern driving time and duty-status recordkeeping.  Drivers using the exemption may operate up to 16 hours in a 24-hour period but must take at least six consecutive hours in a sleeper berth or eight hours off duty.  Paper records must be maintained if electronic logs are not used. The waiver does not apply to hazardous materials shipments.

Click Here for details on the waiver.

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