Pennsylvania Farmers Applaud U.S. Senate Approved Amendment to Federal Transportation Laws

March 15, 2012

(Camp Hill) – Members of the U.S. Senate have adopted a bipartisan amendment, supported by Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB), to prevent federal agencies from demanding that states regulate farmers in the same way they regulate commercial, long-haul truck drivers when using their farm trucks locally.  The amendment is part of a larger federal transportation bill (S. 1813).

“Farmers who work in the fields or haul their products to markets should not be subject to the same regulations as a truck driver traveling across the country.  The adopted language would prevent federal agencies from forcing our state to impose requirements that are not necessary for farm trucks traveling a short distance to deliver goods or transport supplies.  The federal government recently required some farm truck drivers to obtain medial cards, log hours of service and perform vehicle inspections before and after each individual trip,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer. Farm Bureau noted that the amendment would forbid the federal government from withholding funding from a state just because it allows driver exemptions under the state’s transportation code.

 

The amendment would also clear up confusion over how far a licensed farm vehicle could travel from the home farm.  “If enacted, farmers would be able to operate their farm licensed vehicle anywhere within the state, without these onerous regulations on drivers.  In addition, farm truck drivers would not be subject to these federal regulations when hauling their goods as far as 150 miles from home into a neighboring state,” concluded Shaffer.

PFB praised U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) for his efforts drafting and co-sponsoring this amendment to the federal highway funding bill.  The U.S. House of Representatives continues to work on its version of the legislation.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization with a volunteer membership of more than 53,000 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania.

CONTACT:
Mark O’Neill, Media Relations Director , 510 S. 31st Street , Camp Hill, PA 17001 , (717) 761-2740 or E-mail

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