FMCSA approves five year cargo-securement exemption

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has approved a five year cargo securement exemption as requested by a group of agricultural and food transporters. 

The decision to renew the exemption for the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference of American Trucking Associations was announced on Tuesday, October 22nd. 

The exemption allows the securement of agricultural commodities hauled in wooden and plastic boxes and tubs to be secured using alternative methods. The exemption also includes alternative securement methods for hay, straw, and cotton bales. 

All motor carriers and commercial vehicles operating under the exemption must comply with all other regulations. As part of the exemption, the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference is required to report any crashes involving vehicles operating under the exemption, the miles traveled by these vehicles, and any malfunctions of the alternative securement methods. This is the second five year exemption granted by the FMCSA to the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference.

“As explained in the provisional renewal of exemption notice, the agency believes that granting the temporary exemption … will likely provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption,” FMCSA wrote.