Introduction of Legislation to Restore Agriculture Hours-of-Service Exemption to Key Link in Food and Farm Supply Chain
Press Release
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced legislation to fully restore the Agriculture Hours-of-Service exemption to a key link in the food and farm supply chain. Restoring this exemption would make it easier for farmers to transport goods and get their products to the market during the critical planting and harvesting seasons.
"During the planting and harvesting seasons, farmers need to be able to get fertilizer and other supplies to their farms quickly and efficiently, otherwise their crops and businesses may suffer," Klobuchar said."This legislation will help ensure that our farmers have the resources and tools they need to successfully run their farms and provide the food and fuel our country needs."
"We need to provide our farmers and ranchers with the tools they need to do their jobs adequately during the busy planting and harvest seasons," said Roberts."This common sense bill helps clarify already existing regulations and will make transporting commodities and farm supplies more timely, flexible and efficient at a time when being competitive in the global market is critical."
Currently, drivers transporting agricultural supplies during the planting and harvesting periods are only exempt from Hours-Of-Service (HOS) rules -- which limit when and how long truck drivers may drive -- when they are transporting goods from the retailer to the farms, and the exemption does not include most goods transported from the source to the retailer -- a critical segment of the farm and food supply chain. Klobuchar's and Robert's legislation would fully restore the HOS exemption to agriculture goods transported from source to retailer, allowing for an uninterrupted supply chain that will help ensure farmers get the supplies they need in a timely and efficient manner.
The bill is supported by more than 40 national and state agricultural organizations including the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association, the National Farm Bureau, the Cooperative Network, and the American Soybean Association.
Source