The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration today, July 14, announced its proposal to grant a two-year limited exemption from the federal hours-of-service regulations for the transportation of anhydrous ammonia from any distribution point to a local farm retailer or to the ultimate consumer, and from a local farm retailer to the ultimate consumer, as long as the transportation takes place within a 100 air-mile radius of the retail or wholesale distribution point.
The proposed exemption – published in today’s Federal Register – would extend the agricultural operations exemption to certain drivers and motor carriers engaged in the distribution of anhydrous ammonia during the planting and harvesting seasons, as defined by the states in which the carriers and drivers operate. FMCSA says the exemption would preempt inconsistent state and local requirements applicable to interstate commerce.
To submit comments on the proposal, go to www.regulations.gov; the docket number is FMCSA-2010-0230.
