USDA, DOT Working To Address Hauling Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation rules limiting how long truck drivers can be behind the wheel and how much rest they need on a daily basis continually play havoc for truckers hauling live animals and perishable foods.

"We've been working with the federal motor-carriers, Department of Transportation for over a year on that issue," said Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue before a House Appropriations Subcommittee recently.  He noted that work to address the Electronic Logging Rules may be paying off.

"They have some proposed rules coming out that will better define agricultural products and agricultural exemptions. And, hopefully by this summer we can see some resolution on some of those hours of service issues over the electronic-logging devices."

Those rules have created a shortage of drivers and trucking services, particularly for shippers of food, live animals and other Ag products.

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