On May 23, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) introduced the ‘‘Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act,” in an effort to insulate the livestock industry from the changes facing the commercial trucking industry. In it the Secretary of Transportation shall amend the federal regulations to ensure that a driver transporting livestock or insects within a 300 air-mile radius from the point at which the driver begins the trip shall exclude all time spent;
- at a plant, terminal, facility, or other property of a motor carrier or shipper or on any public property during which the driver is waiting to be dispatched;
- loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle;
- supervising or assisting in the loading or unloading of a commercial motor vehicle;
- attending to a commercial motor vehicle while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded;
- remaining in readiness to operate a commercial motor vehicle; and
- giving or receiving receipts for shipments loaded or unloaded;
Also, the driving time is modified to a maximum of not less than 15, and not more than 18, hours within a 24-hour period, wherein the driver may take 1 or more rest periods during the trip, which shall not be included in the calculation of the driving time. After completion of the trip, the driver shall be required to take a rest break for a period that is 5 hours less than the total driving time (10 hour rest for a 15 hour trip).
Finally, if the driver is within 150 air-miles of the point of delivery, any additional driving to that point of delivery shall not be included in the calculation of the driving time; and the 10-hour rest period that currently exists shall not apply prior to unloading.
The American Horse Council will continue to work to limit unnecessary regulatory burden on the horse industry while encouraging legislation that protects the health, welfare and safety of America’s horses and drivers.
Please contact Cliff Williamson at the American Horse Council with any questions.
