FMCSA announced an additional 90-day temporary waiver from the ELD rule for agriculture-related transportation.

On March 13, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced additional steps to address the unique needs of the country’s agriculture industry and provided further guidance to assist in the effective implementation of the Congressionally-mandated electronic logging device (ELD) mandate without impeding commerce or safety.

FMCSA is announcing an additional 90-day temporary waiver from the ELD rule for agriculture-related transportation. Additionally, during this time period, FMCSA will publish final guidance on both the agricultural 150 air-mile hours-of-service exemption and personal conveyance.

It is important to note that this 90 days is an extension of the previous 90 days given to all agriculture commodity haulers. This is not a final decision on the livestock-specific ELD exemption request filed in September – a determination on that request is still to be made. AHC will continue to push for this exemption along with other livestock industry associations. The welfare, safety and health of the animals in transit, together with the safety of other drivers on the road, are top priorities for the equine industry and its enthusiasts.

AHC will continue to work with the FMCSA and the DOT during this delay to better meet the needs of the animal agriculture community to ensure that there are no unintended consequences from current ELD regulations.

If you have any questions, please contact the AHC.

Additional Resources
The American Quarter Horse Association is committed to keeping you up to date with the latest news regarding the ELD Mandate. For more press releases and information on this topic, visit www.aqha.com/membership/resources/eld-mandate/.