Daines Fights for Certainty for Montana Ranchers

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act to provide Montana ranchers with certainty in delaying the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate and reforming Hours of Service (HOS) regulations.

“Montana’s ranchers and livestock haulers drive Montana’s economy,” Daines said. “We must find a solution that keeps our roads safe and allows Montana’s agricultural commodities to get to market humanely and on time. I’ll continue pushing to provide our ranchers and livestock haulers with certainty and remove undue burdens from their businesses.”

The legislation indefinitely delays the ELD mandate for ag haulers and requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a working group charged with providing necessary regulatory and legislative changes. Following the release of the report, DOT must propose regulatory changes to the ELD mandate and hours of service within 120 days.

To read the legislation, click HERE.

Background:

Montana agriculture and livestock haulers have raised numerous concerns regarding the impact of electronic logging devices, as it places undue burdens on the agriculture industry.

Daines has long called for increased flexibility for ag and livestock haulers from unworkable ELD mandates and HOS regulations.

Earlier this month, Daines secured a delay for the ELD mandate for the fiscal year.

Daines also cosponsored this legislation in the 115th Congress.

Daines cosponsored the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act in the 115th Congress which would amend HOS regulations to provide greater flexibility to ag and livestock haulers.

In May 2018, Daines sent a letter signed by a bipartisan group of Senators to Administrator Raymond Martinez of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), calling for greater flexibility within hours of service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers, which help maintain the safety on Montana’s roadways.

On March 13, 2018, Daines announced the Department of Transportation (DOT) granted his request to exempt agriculture and livestock haulers from its electronic logging devices (ELD) mandate.

In March 2018, Daines spoke with Department of Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, urging her to extend the DOT’s exemption on electronic logging devices for agriculture and livestock haulers.

In July 2017, Daines questioned Secretary Chao following an appropriations hearing, which led to a 90 day delay in the implementation of the electronic logging devices mandate.

In April 2017, Daines wrote to former Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) head Daphne Jefferson, raising concerns of implications on livestock and privacy.

In January 2016, Daines questioned former FMCSA head, T.F. Scott Darling, at a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing about the negative impacts electronic logging devices could have on agriculture and livestock haulers.

###