FMCSA Asks for Public Comment on Livestock Exemption, Munitions Hauling

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration asked the public Monday to weigh in on whether it should grant a permanent exemption to the rest-break requirement in the new hours-of-service rule to truckers hauling livestock.

Separately, FMCSA also said Monday that the U.S. Army has asked that truck drivers contracted to carry its weapons, munitions, sensitive cargo or classified cargo be allowed to watch their loads during their 30-minute breaks. The agency also is gathering comments from the public on that request.

Under the livestock exemption, carriers received a temporary waiver of the mandate in July that expires Oct. 9, but a coalition of agricultural interest groups also asked for a permanent exemption, FMCSA said in a Federal Register notice published Monday.

A petition from agricultural interest groups prompted FMCSA to grant the 90-day waiver July 11, citing the harm heat and humidity could cause to animals when a vehicle containing them isn’t moving.

The coalition, led by the National Pork Producers Council, “stated that complying with the 30-minute rest break rule will cause livestock producers and their drivers irreparable harm, place the health and welfare of the livestock at risk, and provide no apparent benefit to public safety, while forcing the livestock industry and their drivers to choose between the humane handling of animals or compliance with the rule,” FMCSA said.

Stopping a truck with animals in it exposes them to a variety of dangers, “including temperature, humidity, and weather conditions,” but keeping the vehicle moving can reduce the dangers, the groups told FMCSA.

The rest-break requirement took effect July 1 as part of an hours-of-service revision that was made final in December 2011.

Click here to comment on the livestock exemption (FMCSA website).

Click here to comment on the munitions-carrying proposal (FMCSA website).