Truck Drivers Seeking More Flexibility On The Road

The American Farm Bureau Federation and other Ag organizations are requesting a five-year exemption from Hours of Service requirements for livestock haulers.  Andrew Walmsley, AFBF congressional relations director, said the safety measures for truck drivers need to consider the uniqueness of hauling livestock.

“The current hours of service rules don’t really take into account the unique needs, of our livestock haulers on the flexibility Congress has granted over the years, but also the need to really take into account, the animal care that’s entrusted for our members and for truck drivers.”

A petition sent to the Department of Transportation by AFBF and others seeks extended drive time and hours on duty.

“Currently, drivers can operate 14 hours on duty, 11 hours of drive time, what we’re seeking in our petition, is 15 hours of drive time when needed with 16 hours of duty.  You can’t pull off and shutdown for 10 hours like the current rules require, especially in high temperatures and high humidity and expect those animals to come through unscathed.”

Walmsley said the petition includes increased fatigue management training to ensure safety.  He said it’s important that safety and common sense are balanced, to benefit the animals, consumers, industry and other motorists as a whole.

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