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TREAD Act would give livestock haulers more flexibility

Legislation has been introduced in the House to provide livestock haulers more flexibility to comply with Hours of Service requirements.

Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig sponsored the bill that she says addresses concerns she’s hearing from farmers.

“They know how to best run their business and how best to be successful, and this bill will allow those haulers who are within a 150 air-mile radius of your destination to safely keep going and get to where you’re going.”

The Responsible and Efficient Agriculture Destination, or TREAD Act, would also allow the exemption to be used year-round rather than only during harvest season.

Craig, who’s on both the House Ag and Transportation Committees, tells Brownfield the bill has strong bipartisan support.

“These regulations are posing a burden for our farmers and there’s something we can do about it, so we ought to give farmers the flexibility given the sensitive nature of the livestock and perishable goods that they carry every day.”

Jara Settles with the Livestock Marketing Association says LMA supports the TREAD Act.  But she points out drivers who have exited the 150-mile radius would still be subject to the same Hours of Service requirements as they are today.