By Jamie Martin
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has strongly endorsed the Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection (HELP) Act, introduced by Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO). This critical legislation aims to give livestock haulers essential flexibility by offering exemptions from hours of service (HOS) and electronic logging device (ELD) mandates.
“When you are hauling cattle, you are dealing with livestock that must be protected from the elements and cannot be easily unloaded until you get to your destination. Livestock haulers need flexibility to complete their trips free from government mandates,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair Skye Krebs, an Oregon rancher who hauls livestock and holds a Commercial Driver’s License. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, haulers and ranchers like me were granted additional flexibility on hours of service and electronic logging devices. In that time, we proved that we could safely transport our livestock and also support the overall supply chain."
The HELP Act seeks to codify the HOS and ELD exemptions granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These temporary exemptions allowed livestock haulers to continue safely transporting cattle while maintaining supply chain operations.
Despite recent news that the FMCSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration withdrew a proposed rule to impose speed limiters on trucks, the ongoing HOS and ELD mandates remain a burden for livestock haulers. The HELP Act would provide long-term relief by reinstating permanent exemptions.
NCBA applauds Rep. Jeff Hurd for introducing the HELP Act and urges Congress to pass the bill to support livestock haulers and strengthen the American supply chain.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National