Nov 2, 2011 10:05 AM

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), the  Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of the American Trucking  Associations, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), and The  Fertilizer Institute (TFI) voiced their support for legislation that would  clarify transportation regulations critical to the agricultural sector’s  ability to expeditiously distribute farm supplies.

  US Reps Sam Graves (R-MO) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO),  along with 38 other congressional co-sponsors, introduced the legislation  intended to resolve questions regarding applicability of the agricultural hours  of service exemption.

  The exemption came into question in 2009 when the Federal  Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an interpretation of the  regulations that resulted in transportation restrictions for certain farm  supplies. The legislation introduced by Graves and Luetkemeyer amends aspects  of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act, which served as the basis for  FMCSA’s 2009 interpretation, to clarify the applicability of exemptions for  agricultural products.

  “When I visit with agricultural retailers across the  country, one of the top issues they bring up as a threat to their business is  the hours-of-service issue,” said Daren Coppock, ARA president and chief  executive officer. “We appreciate the efforts of Congressmen Graves and  Luetkemeyer on this issue so that agricultural retailers are able to serve the  needs of farmers during the busy planting and harvest seasons.”

  “The agricultural exemption to the HOS rule is a crucial  tool for transporters of agricultural products during the busiest times of the  year,” said Rick Yost, AFTC chairman. “We commend the work of Congressmen  Luetkemeyer and Graves, and the other co-sponsors, for their work on this very  important legislation.”

  Specifically, the legislation clarifies that the  agricultural hours of service exemption is applicable to:

  •Drivers transporting agricultural commodities within a  100-air-mile radius

  •Drivers transporting farm supplies for agricultural  purposes from a wholesale or retail business to a farm or other location where  the farm supplies are intended to be used within a 100-air-mile radius from the  distribution point

  •Drivers transporting farm supplies from a wholesale  location to a retail location so long as the transportation is within a  100-air-mile radius

  “This legislation will ensure that farmer co-ops can  continue to provide their producer-owners and other customers with farm  supplies in a timely and efficient manner,” said Chuck Conner, NCFC president  and CEO.

  “TFI commends Congressman Graves and Luetkemeyer, along  with the other co-sponsors of this legislation, for taking the steps necessary  to ensure that the agricultural community has access to the crop nutrients and  farm supplies necessary to produce safe, healthy and abundant crops,” said TFI  President Ford B West.