U.S. senators reintroduce livestock transport reform legislation

A bipartisan group of senators re-enacted the Farm Transport Modernization Act to address current issues related to business hours and rules for electronic monitoring of animal transport.

The Agricultural Transport Modernization Act will reform the Department of Transportation's Hours of Operation (HOS) rules for trucks and will delay the introduction of Electronic Registration Devices (ELDs) until reforms are formally proposed by the Secretary of Transportation.

"We've been working to provide the necessary confidence and flexibility for our HOS and ELD-compliant agricultural carriers to get their products to market safely and efficiently," said Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota. “This legislation builds on our efforts by establishing a process for removing the unnecessary burdens associated with these provisions and promoting reforms based on the contribution of agricultural producers while ensuring road safety.”

The bill also creates a working group within the Department of Transportation that will include stakeholders from the transportation and agricultural industries, the USDA , and security officials.

"Livestock carriers face the difficult task of protecting the safety of our roads while maintaining the HEALTH and welfare of the animals they transport," said Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas.

"The establishment of this working group will allow DOT to use its common sense ... ensuring that agricultural products are delivered on time."

The Group will evaluate the impact of existing regulations on HOS and ELD for commercial transport of livestock and other goods. They will also develop guidelines for reforming the rules and release a report. The Minister of Transport should then propose regulatory changes to hours of operation and electronic check-in devices based on the recommendations of the working group.

Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, says he looks forward to working with his colleagues to "give farmers and ranchers a place at the table as we push for smarter rules for transporting farm goods."