The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s interim final rule on Hours of Service for livestock haulers becomes effective Wednesday December 9. Under the regulation, drivers transporting agricultural commodities are exempt from the HOS requirements within a 150 air mile radius from the source of the commodity. South Dakota Pork Producer Council’s Executive Director Glenn Muller says it’s a positive regulation and meets the needs of livestock haulers.
He says livestock haulers have an overall good safety record and what’s most critical with any of these federal rules is that the safety of both the animals and drivers is ensured.
Muller says any rule that forces a livestock trailer to just sit would be unworkable and end up harming the animals.
While the final rule is effective on Wednesday, comments and petitions for reconsideration of the interim final rule can be submitted by December 24 of 2020.
