News

HAULS Act offers safe, flexible ag and livestock transport

A bipartisan effort to ensure safe transport of ag and livestock products is back before Congress.

The HAULS Act, reintroduced by Republican Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska, addresses three issues – including eliminating the requirement that hours-of-service exemptions only apply during planting and harvesting,

Allison Rivera, executive director for governmental affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, tells Brownfield they’re trying to find flexibility. “The current hours of service regulations are very much a one size fits all,” she says. “When we talk about live haul, it’s very different than what we jokingly say is hauling toilet paper.”

She says the COVID-19 emergency declaration gave them an hours-of-service exemption. “We’ve already proven when we’re given flexibility we can do it safely.”

National Grain and Feed Association’s Max Fisher says 17 states don’t provide any exemptions for haulers during planting or harvesting. “The surges that are needed vary by commodity. Planting and harvesting are not the same for every crop nor are they the same for every ag hauler,” he says.

The bill would also authorize a 150 air-mile exemption from hours-of-service requirements on the destination side of a haul for ag and livestock haulers along with defining agricultural commodities.

Three other senators including Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith co-sponsored the legislation.