New bills would exempt small carriers, ag haulers, from ELD regulations

On Wednesday, lawmakers introduced two bills that would exempt smaller carriers and agricultural haulers from the FMCSA’s ELD regulations.

The first bill is called the Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018 and it was introduced by Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte and Representative Collin Peterson (D-Minn.).

The bill would “completely exempt businesses which operate ten or fewer trucks from the requirements of the ELD mandate.”

Gianforte and Peterson also introduced a second bill on Wednesday called the Agricultural Business Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018. This bill would totally exempt agricultural haulers from ELD regulation requirements.

Under current regulations, livestock haulers must adopt ELDs by September 30, 2018. Agricultural haulers have only until June 18, 2018, to implement ELDs.

“Electronic logging devices are another layer of unnecessary red tape that continues to tie up truckers and puts livestock and Montana livelihoods at risk. This measure is a step in the right direction as we reduce the burden this mandate places on Montana’s small trucking operations, farmers, and ranchers,” said Gianforte.