The Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act of 2021 would allow for permanent flexibility for livestock haulers. The bipartisan bill was recently reintroduced by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Tina Smith (D-MN).
Fischer had introduced similar legislation last year, but the congressional session ended before the bill could be sent to the president.
The HAULS Act would add a 150-air-mile radius exemption under hours-of-service regulations for truckers transporting livestock or agricultural commodities. It would also remove the seasonal harvest requirements for the agriculture hours-of-service exemption and clarify the definition of an agricultural commodity.
Currently, hours-of-service rules allow for 11 hours of drive time, 14 hours of on-duty time, and then 10 hours of rest. Voicing their support for the measure, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said in a statement, “When transporting livestock, there is a real need for further flexibility beyond the current hours of service.
“Unlike drivers moving consumer goods, livestock haulers cannot simply idle or unload their trucks when drive time hours run out without jeopardizing animal health and welfare.”
