Agricultural News
U.S. Custom Harvesters Welcome Long-Awaited Regulator Relief Included in Highway Bill
Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:18:35 CST
After nearly 25 years of work, U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. is welcoming a common-sense provision in the new Highway Bill. The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act was signed into law last week. This legislation includes regulatory relief for custom harvesters and others in the agriculture industry. This regulation required producers and agriculture professionals to obtain a hazardous material endorsement before transporting diesel fuel.
With this new provision, up to 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel can be hauled to the field without the need for a hazmat endorsement on a Class A CDL. Previously, custom harvesters and others could only haul up to 119 gallons of diesel fuel without the special endorsement.
US Custom Harvesters Incorporated executive secretary Tracy Zeorian says her organization has been working on this issue for years, dating back to 1991. "History tells us that there was a simple typo at the time," said Zeorian, "Instead of 1,000 gallons, somebody put down 1,000 pounds." The way the provision is worded in the new Highway Bill, each state will have to waive the need for the hazardous material endorsement. "It will take some more work on our part to educate each state that this is something that will benefit their farmers, ag businesses and custom harvesters."
USCHI is praising the Administration and Congress for supporting the Highway Bill. Numerous agriculture groups also provided support for the end of this regulatory burden. Most importantly, this legislative success would not be possible without the persistence of the USCHI membership.
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