Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer has introduced the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety or HAULS Act legislation. Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Director of National Affairs Jordan Dux says his group has been supporting what’s in this bill for some time in order to give livestock haulers relief from burdensome hours of service regulations.

He says one of the major problems with the current hours of service rule is that it could force livestock haulers to quit operating when they’re in the middle of transporting animals which creates a health concern for that livestock.

Dux says it’s critical that there be flexibility in the rules for livestock haulers during their busiest time of the year. He adds that Fischer’s bill will expand the uniformity and clarity for the transportation of the country’s ag products.

Fischer’s legislation also eliminates the seasonal harvest requirements for agriculture’s hour of service exemptions, making the exemption available year round in all states.