News FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO EVALUATE NEED FOR ELECTRONIC LOGGING DEVICES

FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO EVALUATE NEED FOR ELECTRONIC LOGGING DEVICES

FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO EVALUATE NEED FOR ELECTRONIC LOGGING DEVICES
February 14, 2018 |

Alabama Farmers Federation

In light of potential electronic logging device (ELD) mandates, farmers and ranchers who haul livestock should evaluate their need for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) label, said the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Nate Jaeger.

The rule on ELDs — which automatically record a person’s driving hours — was published in 2015. ELD requirements on trucks hauling agricultural commodities and livestock are temporarily delayed until March 18.

“We would like to see more flexibility in the rules for haulers of perishable commodities and livestock,” said Jaeger, the Federation’s Beef, Equine, Hay & Forage and Meat Goat & Sheep divisions director. “As cattle and other livestock are moved from one region of the country to another, there has to be some consideration for the well-being of the animals involved. Multiple stops or repeated offloading of animals will impact the bottom line of farmers and result in unnecessary stress on livestock. Farmers should individually evaluate the rule’s effects on their business to determine if their vehicles are CMVs and if their drivers need a CDL.”

To determine if you are subject to the ELD mandate, contact Kenny Price at the Alabama Division of the FMCSA at (334) 290-4947 or at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/electronic-logging-devices.

The Federation, American Farm Bureau Federation and other national trade associations are pursuing exemptions to help farmers.

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