TRUCKS Act

TRUCKS Act Gains Support

DanAgri-Business, Legislative

TRUCKS Act
Highway transportation with cars and truck in tiltshift view.

Legislation that affects agricultural trucking is getting some support. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) of South Dakota introduced the TRUCKS Act, formally known as the Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers Act. It would allow states to issue a new Small Business Restricted Commercial Driver’s License without having to meet the federal safety program Entry-Level Driver Training requirements that were passed in 2012.

The training classes range from $450 to $8,500 and can take up to 20 days to complete. Senator Rounds calls the federal safety training program “burdensome”.

U.S. Custom Harvesters agrees and has endorsed the legislation. In a news release, U.S. Custom Harvesters states the legislation will remove burdensome government regulations and simplify the process of hiring CDL drivers, especially during a difficult labor market in the agriculture industry. In the news release, they state “The TRUCKS act will protect small businesses from these constricting regulations so they can fill positions in a timely manner and remain competitive in the industry.”

The new rule does still require other training and verification procedures.

Listen to Sabrina Halvorson’s program here.

TRUCKS Act Gains Support

Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.

Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet News Hour and The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.