The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is backing the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety or HAULS Act of 2021 legislation. The bill provides flexibility for livestock haulers from the stringent hours of service regulations. NCBA Vice President and South Dakota Cattle producer Todd Wilkinson says they’ve had several temporary relief extensions for those transporting livestock but a permanent fix that this bill provides is badly needed.
He says livestock haulers have a stellar record of safety and there shouldn’t be an safety concerns with placing flexibility in the hours of service rules for them.
Wilkinson says when it comes to safety, that needs to be preserved for both the trucker and for the animals themselves.
The current hours of service rules allow for 11 hours of drive time, 14 hours on duty time, and then require ten consecutive hours of rest. Giving livestock haulers flexibility from those hours of service is required so they can keep grocery stores stocked with beef.
