Durbin Applauds DOT Commitment to Common Sense Farm Transportation Guidance

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released new guidance on agriculture transportation.

“The decision of the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration to release common sense guidelines, with input from Illinois stakeholders, resolves issues faced by farmers and will allow them to go about business without facing burdensome new requirements,” Durbin said.

The new guidance regarding the operation and regulation of farm vehicles comes after the FMCSA opened up a comment period on reclassifying crop-share farmers as “for-hire” carriers. This classification would have enforced stricter licensing and insurance requirements on some Illinois farmers. Senator Durbin encouraged all farmers to participate at the opening of the comment period.

Last week Durbin, joined by Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), sent a letter to FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro asking for a decision that took into account Illinois farmers’ concerns saying: “Given the hardship recent interpretations of this rule have created for Illinois farmers, we ask that you carefully consider Illinois Farm Bureau’s comments when issuing final guidance.”

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