The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has issued a temporary waiver to address ongoing fertilizer supply shortages impacting American agriculture.
FMCSA said the waiver is intended to help ensure fertilizer products reach farmers during the critical application season while maintaining an equivalent level of safety.
The war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have restricted global fertilizer shipments. In response, the Department of Agriculture has announced a full-scale, all-of-government effort to strengthen the country’s fertilizer supply, including efforts to lower shipping costs, expand fertilizer production, and cut red tape so that fertilizers reach America’s farmers.
The waiver applies to motor carriers and drivers transporting straight or blended fertilizer products for commercial farming and agricultural purposes.
The waiver is active from May 26, through 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 26.
States included in the waiver include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The waiver temporarily suspends:
- Certain Hours-of-Service (HOS) limitations under 49 CFR 395.3
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) requirements under 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)(i)
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