The Trump administration is proposing changes to hours of service rules for commercial vehicle drivers. The proposal would give drivers more flexibility while maintaining the safety limits on driving time. South Dakota Pork Producers Council Executive Director Glenn Muller says it’s encouraging the administration is looking at more flexible and possibly workable rules.
He hopes the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will take into account how responsible livestock haulers are as many have become transportation quality assurance certified.
The FMCSA is accepting comments on the rules until the end of September to determine what should be considered livestock or an agricultural commodity. Muller says SDPPC and their national group, NPPC will be weighing on with their comments.
The proposed rule would not increase driving time and would continue to prevent operators from driving for more than eight consecutive hours without at least a thirty minute change in duty status.
