Electronic Logging Devices & Hours of Service

This new law has severe ramifications for those who merely transport their own livestock for auction or have been purchased and simply being delivered to the new owner.

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate, coupled with existing hours of service (HOS) regulations, pose significant challenges for the livestock industry. As of yesterday, federal law limits on-duty time to 14 hours, with a maximum drive time of 11 consecutive hours. The driver must then rest for 10 consecutive hours before returning to duty. This presents a challenge for livestock haulers who are traveling long distances.

Research demonstrates that repeated loading and unloading of animals creates stress, harming the livestock as well as endangering the hauler. Additionally, the livestock sector has consistently been one of the safest of the commercial hauling sectors. Unfortunately, confusion and possibly misunderstanding over enforcement and how ELDs operate are causing significant concern within the livestock industry over apparent incompatibilities between the HOS rule and the realities of livestock hauling.

Please Comment!

The US DOT is accepting comments to assist them with determining guidance for livestock haulers regarding point source(s) when using the 150 air-mile exemption. The agency recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so they can contact you with questions regarding your submission.

Comments must include the docket number: FMCSA-2017-0360-0196 – and are due by 11:00 PM CST (10:00 PM MST), on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

To submit your comments online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and put docket number FMCSA-2017-0360-0196 in the “Keyword” box, and click “Search.” When the new screen appears, click on “Comment Now!” button in the upper right corner and type your comment into the text box in the following screen.

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