Update December 2018:  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) clarified on its website on December 14, 2018, that “Transporters of livestock and insects are not required to have an ELD.  The statutory exemption will remain in place until further notice.  Drivers do not need to carry any documentation regarding this exemption.”

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History:  H.R. 1625, the fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill that was signed into law on March 23, 2018, included an exemption for livestock and insect haulers from compliance with the electronic logging device and hours of service rule which went into effect December 18, 2017, for the duration of the FY 2018 appropriations bill (September 30, 2018), and any subsequent continuing resolutions.  Transporters of other agricultural commodities continue to benefit from the 90-day waiver, until June 18, 2018, from compliance with the ELD rule.  Haulers operating under these exemptions are encouraged to print and carry the information at this link in combination with the waiver available here in the event they interact with carrier enforcement.

On December 18, 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Final Rule on Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) and Hours of Service (HOS) went into effect. The final rule, which was issued in late 2015, could have a significant impact on the livestock industry and livestock haulers even with some exemptions that exist to relieve the burden on livestock transporters. The new rule requires truck drivers to use electronic logging devices instead of paper logs to track their driving hours. The devices connect to the vehicle's engine and automatically record driving hours.

Transporters of agricultural commodities and livestock were granted an additional 90-day waiver from compliance of the rule, until June 18, 2018.

The Kansas Farm Bureau Legal Foundation has resources on transportation issues in agriculture here, including information regarding electronic logging devices and hours of service requirements.  

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) updated their website reflecting the prohibition on enforcement of the ELD mandate on livestock and insect haulers.