Limited hours waiver granted to livestock haulers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will give livestock transporters a temporary waiver on the new 30-minute break requirement.

FMCSA informed the National Pork Producers Council July 3 that it would publish notice of the waiver in the Federal Register next week. Effective July 1, the hours-of-service rule requires a 30-minute break per eight on-duty hours.

The NPPC and 12 other organizations, including the American Trucking Associations’ Agriculture and Food Transporters Conference, petitioned for the exemption June 19. Petitioners noted that the above-normal temperatures forecast through September would exacerbate temperature increases for animals inside the trucks.

Agency officials indicated it will develop a permanent exemption from this segment of the rule for livestock and poultry transporters, the council added.

FMCSA twice has rejected ATA petitions to delay HOS implementation until 90 days following a ruling from the federal appeals court where the association is challenge the regulation.