Cramer Reminds North Dakota Truckers to Offer Comments on ELD Rules

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer encouraged North Dakota truckers and other citizens who may be negatively affected by Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules to voice their concerns. Last month, the Federal Motor Carrier Association (FMCSA) announced a 90-day delay of its ELD rules for live load truckers, which were originally scheduled to take effect December 18th. Public comments regarding agricultural commodities are being accepted HERE until January 19th.

"I am pleased the FMCSA granted the agriculture industry a 90-day waiver. This extra time will allow the agency to fully consider the exemption requests that have poured in from the industry. I encourage everyone to make their voices heard on this issue prior to the comment period closing on January 19th. I will keep the pressure on the FMCSA and encourage our ag commodity haulers to voice their views to the agency as it reviews the exemption requests."

FMCSA also announced a delay in placing non-ELD compliant vehicles out-of-service until April 1st. If a vehicle is stopped for inspection between December 18, 2017 and April 1, 2018, and it does not have an ELD, the driver will only be cited for not having an ELD, but will be allowed to continue driving and the violation will not impact the carrier's safety percentiles.

Last September, Congressman Cramer joined a majority of his colleagues in supporting the House appropriations package. Included in the package is H.R. 3353 which contains report language that would instruct DOT to analyze whether a full or targeted delay in ELD implementation and enforcement would be appropriate. The package also prohibits any funds from being used to enforce the mandate on for truckers transporting livestock. Cramer is also a cosponsor of H.R. 3282, the ELD Extension Act which would delay the ELD mandate two years.

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