FMCSA proposes HM endorsement exemption for agricultural jet fuel haulers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed an exemption that would affect some truck drivers and trucking companies in the agricultural sector. 

The National Agricultural Aviation Association previously submitted an application to the FMCSA suggesting a hazmat endorsement exemption for CDL holders hauling jet fuel for the agricultural sector. The application points out that a hazmat endorsement exemption for diesel fuel haulers in the agricultural sector has already been issued by the FMCSA. 

The resulting proposed exemption was posted by the FMCSA on Tuesday, December 3rd, and would allow Class A CDL holders hauling 1,000 or less of aviation-grade jet fuel for agricultural operations to be exempt from the hazardous materials endorsement. 

“The proposal would result in cost savings for agricultural aviation operators and the drivers these operators hire to mix, load, and transport jet fuel in quantities of 1,000 gallons or less” in states that allow the waiver, the FMCSA states in the proposed exemption. “Class A CDL holders would avoid approximately $261 in costs associated with each driver obtaining an HM endorsement [see table], and agricultural aviation operators would be able to run their businesses more efficiently by making use of satellite airstrips.”

In the application, the NAAA states that trucks are necessary to the modern agricultural process, as they haul fuel and crop protection products to aircraft runways near the fields in need of treatment. 

“This is necessary to save on the quantity of fuel consumed by an ag aircraft and to save aircraft flight time between the loading facility and the application site,” states the NAAA. “A shortage of available drivers may prevent using a satellite airstrip closer to the application site.”

If trucks are unable to deliver the fuel required, “more fuel is burned to travel to the application site and more time elapses, resulting in fewer application jobs performed during the day. Therefore, the granting of the application would save considerably on fuel costs.”

The FMCSA says it does not currently know how many truck drivers are employed as part of agricultural aviation operations specifically.