Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Burdensome Regulations on Montana Agriculture, Livestock Haulers

Press Release

U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the bipartisan "Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act," which would delay enforcement of the Hours of Service (HOS) and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) regulations until reforms are proposed by the Transportation Secretary. The bill creates a solution for Montana ag and livestock haulers that will help keep our roads safe and remove burdensome regulations from their operations.

"Montana's ag haulers should be able to transport their products efficiently and safely. Providing this needed certainty and flexibility to our ag and livestock haulers will help to remove unnecessary burdens that negatively impact our ranchers while also keeping our roads safe," Daines said.

In addition to Daines, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kans.).

The full text of the bill is available HERE.

Background:

Montana agriculture and livestock haulers have raised numerous concerns regarding the impact of electronic logging devices, as it places undue burdens on the agriculture industry.

Daines has long called for increased flexibility for ag and livestock haulers from unworkable ELD mandates and HOS regulations.

In 2019, Daines secured a delay for the ELD mandate for the fiscal year. Daines also cosponsored this legislation in the 115th Congress.

In 2019, Daines introduced the bipartisan Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act that will ease burdensome regulations on livestock haulers.

On March 13, 2018, Daines announced the Department of Transportation (DOT) granted his request to exempt agriculture and livestock haulers from its electronic logging devices (ELD) mandate.

In March 2018, Daines spoke with Department of Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, urging her to extend the DOT's exemption on electronic logging devices for agriculture and livestock haulers.

In May 2018, Daines sent a letter signed by a bipartisan group of Senators to Administrator Raymond Martinez of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), calling for greater flexibility within hours of service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers, which help maintain the safety on Montana's roadways.

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