WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is taking the U.S. Department of Transportation to task over a proposal that would treat farmers and ranchers who drive tractors, haul trailers or operate farm vehicles on public roads like commercial truck drivers.  This onerous regulation would place another unnecessary burden on Montana’s farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses.  Rehberg expressed his concerns in a letter to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Anne Ferro.

“This proposed rule makes no sense for Montana, where ag is our top industry,” said Rehberg, a fifth-generation Montana rancher.  “Montana’s hard working farmers and ranchers have enough on their plates without having to worry about reporting to the government every time the wheels of their tractor touch the road.  The bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. need to recognize that one-size-fits-all regulations create barriers that can hinder our economy and our future.  Driving a farm vehicle down a country road in eastern Montana is a whole lot different than driving it through Times Square in New York City.”

If approved, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) proposal will eliminate the state’s ability to grant commercial driver’s licenses exemptions for farm vehicles, such as tractors, trailers, combines, and pickup trucks that routinely use public roads to travel between fields, transport farm equipment and deliver goods to market.  Montana and other Western states, including North Dakota, exempt ag producers from the commercial licensing requirements if they only drive short distances.  These new proposals would require farmers and ranchers to purchase commercial driver’s licenses, submit health records, maintain log books and would prevent farm hands under the age of 18 from operating the vehicles on the roads. 

The new regulations would also expand the federal government’s authority in intrastate commerce. In his letter, Rehberg urged FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro to abandon any plans to over-regulate the agriculture community and further erode state’s rights.

“Farm vehicle operation is not a problem in Montana," said Jake Cummins, executive vice president, Montana Farm Bureau Federation.  "This is a big state and agricultural activities take place in every part of the state every day.  Our farmers and ranchers can’t work if they can’t drive and they can’t drive if they have to fill out a form every time they open a gate."
 
Rehberg’s full letter is below:

Dear Administrator Ferro:

I am writing you today to express concerns about the proposed changes to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s regulations regarding agricultural vehicles. As a fifth-generation rancher and Montana’s Representative, I urge you not to impose another one-size-fits-all regulation upon our state’s and our nation’s agricultural sector.

In Montana, like in many agricultural communities, farmers and ranchers routinely use public roads to travel between fields, transport farm implements, and deliver goods to market.  Under your proposal, tractors, combines and pickup trucks hauling trailers would be regulated as commercial vehicles.  Producers who operate these vehicles would be required to obtain commercial driver’s licenses, medical cards and log their hours as if they were long-haul truck drivers.

As it stands now, each state is allowed to grant an exemption to CDL requirements within its borders to accommodate its unique needs.  In Montana, like in many rural states, farm vehicles and their operators are granted an exemption.  This flexibility allows my state to protect our agricultural producers from a costly and burdensome regulation.  This proposal would eliminate that flexibility and place onerous, new requirements on Montana’s farmers and ranchers.

This regulatory change also seeks to define the difference between interstate and intrastate commerce.  Many agricultural producers in my state are deeply concerned about expanding the definition of interstate commerce to include the in-state transport of goods that could eventually be shipped out of state.  This expansive redefining of interstate commerce is a slippery slope that serves only to increase federal authority.

I urge you to rethink this one-size-fits-all proposal and abandon any plans to over regulate this industry look forward to discussing this matter with you in the future.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (202) 225-3211.
           
Sincerely,