WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, the Senate Commerce Committee voted on a bipartisan basis to include the backend 150 air-mile extension for livestock haulers to the Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021 working through the upper chamber. Currently, the first 150 air-miles of a trip are exempt from an Hours of Service (HOS) rule, which allow a maximum of 11 hours of drive-time followed by 10 consecutive hours of off-duty rest.
Allison Rivera with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) points out that the Committee leadership is dedicated to keeping the language intact when the Senate and House hash out the details of their individual bills.
This is an issue that NCBA has been working on for four years after the Transportation Department implemented electronic logging devices (ELD’s) and HOS mandate for truck drivers aimed at improving road safety. Unfortunately, these mandates didn’t take into account the logistics of hauling livestock, especially cattle, and the negative impacts it could have on animal health.
Rivera explains that animal welfare is at the heart of this issue and it has resonated not only among Senators but also at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
(SOURCE: All Ag News)