FMCSA Clarifies Ag Hauler HOS Exemption
JUNE 12, 2018 – The FMCSA has clarified a few key points of the hours of service exemption for agricultural haulers. Published in the Federal Register last week, this exemption relates specifically to the 150 air mile radius exemption, and how it can be used by ag haulers. As defined by the federal government, this exemption applies to any commercial motor vehicle driver that hauls “any agricultural commodity, nonprocessed food, feed, fiber or livestock . . . including insects.”
The premise of the 150 air mile exemption is as follows: agricultural haulers can travel freely within 150 air miles of the source without adhering to any federal hours of service regulations. There is no limit to how much they can drive, no required breaks, no logs to fill out, and no requirement that the truck be loaded.
Is there any kind of exemption form to fill out and carry in the truck or just put it in gear and go?