In a victory for hard-working farm families, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) and Congressman Sam Graves (MO-6) announced that they have successfully helped to secure a two year federal waiver that will ensure the timely delivery of agricultural supplies to farmers across the country. Luetkemeyer and Graves both serve on the House Agriculture Committee.

After working with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Anne Ferro, Luetkemeyer and Graves, who are both farmers, received word late yesterday afternoon that FMCSA granted a two year waiver from the hours-of-service exemption. Earlier this year they secured a 90 day waiver from the hours-of-service regulations for the 2010 planting season.

The waiver extends the agricultural operations exemption for a motor carrier in the distribution system provided that the motor carrier is delivering anhydrous ammonia, none of the transportation movements exceed a 100 air-mile radius, and the motor carrier has a satisfactory safety rating.

Luetkemeyer and Graves still believe that Congress intended for this agriculture activity to be included when the provision of law was created, but sought the waiver after concerns were raised about the interpretation of the FMCSA hour-of-service exemption for agricultural operations, in particular the delivery of anhydrous ammonia during the planting season. 

“This is great news for the agriculture community and ensures the timely delivery of farming supplies to our hard-working family farmers,” Luetkemeyer said. “I will continue to fight for a permanent solution to the hours-of-service issue, and will continue to work with Secretary LaHood and the Department of Transportation to address other concerns of farm families and rural America.”

“I am pleased FMCSA granted this two-year waiver for the transportation of anhydrous ammonia. This is a significant step in the right direction, especially following the 90-day waiver my colleagues and I pushed for and received back in March. Missouri farmers now know they have access to this fertilizer whenever they need it. I believe this waiver successfully balances the need for quick delivery with the requirement that anhydrous ammonia be transported safely. This is major victory for America’s farmers, but I will continue to push for a permanent resolution to this issue,” Graves said.

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