# The HAULS Act of 2021: What It Means for Farm Truck Drivers

This bill makes it easier for truck drivers who haul agricultural products to work longer hours without violating federal safety regulations. Currently, truck drivers have strict limits on how many hours they can drive per day—rules designed to keep tired drivers off the road. But farmers and agricultural businesses have long complained that these rules make it harder to get crops, livestock, and farm supplies where they need to go, especially during busy seasons.

The HAULS Act loosens these restrictions specifically for drivers transporting agricultural goods. Instead of only getting exemptions during planting and harvest seasons (which vary by state), drivers can now haul agricultural products year-round within a 150-mile radius of where the goods come from or where they're going. This means a driver picking up hay from a farm and delivering it to a livestock operation 100 miles away wouldn't have to worry about federal hour-of-service limits. The bill also expands what counts as an "agricultural commodity" to include not just crops but also livestock, fish, eggs, milk, honey, and animal feed—basically anything farmers produce or use.

The practical effect is that agricultural hauling becomes more flexible and less regulated. Farmers and agricultural companies get faster, more reliable transportation for their products, which could mean fresher produce at markets and better supply chains for rural businesses. However, this comes with a tradeoff: drivers in this industry will be allowed to work longer hours, which some safety advocates worry could lead to more tired drivers on the road. The bill requires the Transportation Department to update its official definition of agricultural commodities within six months to spell out exactly what qualifies for these exemptions.

HAULS Act of 2021

Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2021 or the HAULS Act of 2021 This bill modifies exemptions with respect to commercial motor vehicle safety regulations involving the transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies. The bill allows the federal hours-of-service rules exemption regarding maximum driving and on-duty time for drivers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies to apply year-round. Current law provides an exception from the federal hours-of-service rules for the transportation of agricultural commodities within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location only during planting and harvest periods which are determined by each state. Additionally, the Department of Transportation must revise the definition of agricultural commodity to include specific commodities that are covered by the federal hours-of-service rules exception.