The U.S. Department of Transportation and the USDA have announced a temporary waiver of hours-of-service rules for fertilizer deliveries, aiming to help farmers receive critical supplies faster during the busy planting season.
Federal regulations typically limit the hours a driver can operate a commercial vehicle transporting property in interstate commerce. However, in response to a request from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a waiver Tuesday, loosening driving time restrictions for haulers transporting straight or blended fertilizer products in 35 states, including Illinois.
The waiver is effective until August 26th.
Under the new rules, fertilizer haulers may drive up to 16 hours within a 24-hour period, provided they take at least one six-hour break in a sleeper berth or an eight-hour break if no sleeper berth is available. Normally, truckers are required to take 10 consecutive hours off duty before starting a new driving shift and must rest again after 14 hours of driving.
According to officials, it is common for agricultural states to receive seasonal waivers for hours-of-service regulations during peak planting or harvesting times. TFI had previously recommended this policy solution to the White House in a letter earlier this month as a way to address fertilizer delivery challenges.
The waiver aims to ensure timely delivery of fertilizer to farms and support the nation’s agricultural productivity during a critical period.