The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it will waive the new rest-break requirement for 90 days for truck drivers who are carrying live animals, because of the above-average temperatures forecast for the summer and fall in much of the United States.
High temperatures and humidity can be dangerous for livestock, including pigs and cows, and a coalition of agricultural interest groups told FMCSA that they advise their truck drivers to avoid stopping when the temperature is above 80 degrees.
The rest-break requirement, part of the new hours-of-service rule that FMCSA began enforcing July 1, mandates that truck drivers take a 30-minute break before driving more than eight hours in a shift.
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.”
The agency also said it considered the safety and crash rate of agricultural carriers in making its decision.
FMCSA plans to publish a notice of the waiver in the Federal Register on Thursday, when it will become effective, the agency said. The notice was made public Monday.
