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Mar 14, 2013
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DoT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register today to reflect the statutory exemptions for drivers transporting agricultural commodities that were included in the surface transportation bill (MAP-21) passed by Congress last year. States are to adopt compatible regulations as soon as possible after the effective date of this Final Rule, which is today, but no later than three years from the rule’s effective date.
This action follows an Oct. 1, 2012 Federal Register notice from FMCSA alerting motor carriers and enforcement officials of the two statutory exemptions in MAP-21. Specifically, section 32101 provided a statutory exemption from the hours-of-service regulations for certain carriers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies, and section 32934 provided a statutory exemption from most of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) for the operation of covered farm vehicles by farm and ranch operators, their employees, and certain other specified individuals under certain specific circumstances.
These statutory provisions were self-executing and took effect on Oct. 1, 2012. The Final Rule is currently on display at the Federal Register and may be viewed by clicking here.
