FMCSA grants age-related exemption for custom harvester drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently granted an exemption request for custom harvester drivers under the age of 21.

On September 26, 2025, FMCSA announced its final decision to renew the exemption granted to U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI) from the intrastate restriction (“K”) on commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for custom harvester drivers operating in interstate commerce.

The exemption is valid for a five year period.

“FMCSA’s regulations provide an exception to the minimum age requirements for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) controlled and operated by a person engaged in interstate custom harvesting. However, FMCSA’s CDL regulations do not include a corresponding exception from the intrastate-only (or ‘‘K’’) restriction for these drivers,” the agency said.

USCHI was first granted the exemption by FMCSA in October 2018, which lasted for five years through October 3, 2023. Although USCHI requested another five year exemption in 2023, the FMCSA chose instead to renew the exemption for only two years “as a safety precaution.” 

“FMCSA has evaluated the USCHI exemption application and USCHI’s comment, and issues this final decision to renew the exemption for a five-year period. FMCSA is not aware of any evidence showing that the exemption has resulted in any degradation in safety. Interstate operations for custom harvester drivers younger than 21 have been allowed since 1971 pursuant to 49 CFR 391.2(a). FMCSA reviewed crash and inspection data of drivers who have operated under the 2018 exemption. FMCSA does not have information to conclude that the 2018 exemption and subsequent renewal resulted in a degradation of safety. FMCSA concludes that renewing the exemption for five years will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be achieved without the exemption,” the agency concluded.