FMCSA Offers Some Farmers HOS Exemption

A rule published Thursday by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expands the distance that drivers hauling agricultural products, livestock, machinery or supplies to or from farms can travel under the hours-of-service exemption for the agriculture industry.

The new rule allows drivers operating under the HOS exemption to travel a distance of 150 miles from the source compared with only 100 miles under the old rule.

However, the new rule also clarifies that operators of “covered farm vehicles” must be “farmers or ranchers, their families, and employees.” Commercial, for-hire vehicles are not allowed the exemption.