CDL, DOT, log book for tractors...

rambler · #1 02/25/10, 04:47 PM

The Fedral govt is looking to regulate more farm stuff.

They have started 'audits' in 5 states, and Pennsylvania is the first to go through the stayem.

Sounds like it just got signed into law, and goes in effect this March.

http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/pa-...egs/14313.html

Can't find news on that, but here's a bit of a news clip on it.

Once your tractor needs DOT numbers and all, then it needs to meet EPA regulations.

And those are all going to Tier 4 diesel, or cat converter for gas engine, emissions.

Doesn't affect you? It requires ag trucks and ag tractors and their operators to meet the same type of regulations as over the road truckers have to meet. DOT, CLD, log books, must be 18 or older.....

How do you get your greens to the farmer's market? Pickup????

How do you get to the hay field a mile away that you bale?

Your kids help with the tractor or pickup?

Seems pretty drastic.

This is another of those things like NAIS for animals things. We ignore it until bam there it is.....

I invite anyone doing any amount of farming to look into it, and see if it makes any sense to you. Might want to talk to the congresscritters you have.

--->Paul

blooba · #2 02/25/10, 05:02 PM

Yea, looks like this has already passed all approval processes. Sounds to me that some politicians need voted out this election season. I would tell the Feds to keep their 25 million and shove their regs, PA has too much road construction anyways.

Just FYI: "All farm truck operators, regardless of age, will need to visit a doctor and obtain a valid medical certificate (every two years) declaring the driver is physically qualified to operate the vehicle."

This probably includes drug/alcohol testing too.

Wisconsin Ann · #3 02/25/10, 05:08 PM

I particularly liked the last one: – Vehicle inspection: Farmers will be required to conduct pre-trip inspections and complete written post-trip safety reports.

I can see it now from past experience:
Lights...headlights-yup. still got one. Found my way home
Tailights-don't know, can't see for the rainstorm.
Brakes - well, it stopped, that's good enough.
Horn - can't test, would scare the cows
Tire pressure and tread - If you think I'm going to mess around in a driving rainstorm in mud up to my arse to see if I've still got tread on my tractor tires THINK AGAIN.

I wonder...is the PA driving age 16 like it is here in WI or 18? I didn't look to see what was on the books for laws or if this is a for real gonna get done law or not...

Windy in Kansas · #4 02/25/10, 05:16 PM

Reads like the alternative is to forego federal funds so that these ridiculous terms cannot be enforced.

What does a tracked Challenger or a large 4 wheeled drive tractor with duals weigh without any implement? Add the weight of the implement and it would easily be over 17,000 I'm sure.

I really think it is time that some legislators starved.

Next thing you know they will be telling farmers that even they can't work 16 to 20 hour days during harvest.

I think I was driving a tractor by age 10 or 11 and moving harvest trucks in the field by age 12 or so. Can't do that----gee dad what am I going to do all day long? Go to town and get into trouble?

I simply have to shake my head at the thought of such nonsense.

blooba · #5 02/25/10, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wisconsin Ann

I wonder...is the PA driving age 16 like it is here in WI or 18? I didn't look to see what was on the books for laws or if this is a for real gonna get done law or not...

I looked it up on the Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus site that was linked in that article.

Quote:

Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) has approved new transportation regulations

Dunno who else it still has to go through but the deadline is approaching fast.

Quote:

"The new regulations focus on farm trucks, with many of the provisions dealing with farm trucks that are pulling something like a trailer or farm implement with the total weight exceeding 17,000 pounds. Here’s an example of some of the new regulations:
Farm family members, aged 16 and 17, who are currently allowed to drive farm trucks will no longer be able to do so if the truck is towing another vehicle, such as a trailer full of hay, if both vehicles weigh more than 17,000 pounds."

If I'm not mistaken thats most bigger tractors once you add the weights,implements or trailers. Am I correct?

Quote:

"PennDOT and the State Police have stated in written testimony that the Pennsylvania State Police department would lose $3.1 million in federal money to pay for commercial vehicle safety enforcement activities and possibly another $22 million for not complying with federal standards if the regulations are not in place by March 31, 2010."

With PennDOT's annual budget of over $5 billion this is not worth jumping through the hoops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

Next thing you know they will be telling farmers that even they can't work 16 to 20 hour days during harvest.

It does,I think CDL drivers can only drive 12 hrs/day with a break every 4 if I'm not mistaken.

Quote:

Drivers of farm trucks, whether they are operated alone or towing another vehicle, will need to comply with hours of service requirements, which include minimum periods of “break time,” limits on hours driven between breaks and recordkeeping by drivers (commonly known as drivers’ logs) or by farmers proving the standards are being met. Farmers will be responsible for getting and keeping the required paperwork.

Walt K. in SW PA · #6 02/25/10, 05:22 PM

Driving age in PA is 16. Sounds like another blow to the family farm.

plowjockey · #7 02/25/10, 05:26 PM

I'm a professional truck driver. What a farmer does on his farm, I could care less.

What a farmer does on the highway is my business. They should be required to follow the same physical and safety standards as everybody else, for trucks. Driving farm equipment on the road, I am not concerned about.

If it causes them more stress, then welcome to the club.

I like going home every night to my family, just like everybody else.

blooba · #8 02/25/10, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowjockey

I'm a professional truck driver. What a farmer does on his farm, I could care less.

What a farmer does on the highway is my business. They should be required to follow the same physical and safety standards as everybody else, for trucks. Driving farm equipment on the road, I am not concerned about.

If it causes them more stress, then welcome to the club.

I like going home every night to my family, just like everybody else.

I can see where you are coming from although farm vehicles have long been excluded from DOT rules and regs. The biggest problem with this law is there is no differential between farm and road.

The situation maybe different in PA but in OH the farm drivers are more cautious and courteous than regular drivers(let alone some CDL drivers)on the road. This is a huge jump in regulation that is unnecessary in my opinion.

GingerN · #9 02/25/10, 07:32 PM

that is just wrong. If they make a farmer get a cdl, then the farmer will be subject to all DOT rules-even those that should not apply, as well as drug testing and alcohol testing. I do that testing part time, and let me tell you, a driver can't just walk in off the street without a company affiliation and get a test. My supervisor was telling me that Monday, as a matter of fact. If an owner operator-which a farmer would fall under-comes in and wants a test so he will be current and legal, then he has to either be affiliated with a company for records purposes or he has to join basically a pool of other drivers for a fee (not ours, theres) and then get a test and the results are reported to that pool.

The whole thing about a farm tractor being subject to this is hogwash. Good grief. Has all common sense gone flying out the danged window?

Windy in Kansas · #10 02/25/10, 08:31 PM

Tractors/DOT/dyed fuel vs. plain. I wonder if the tractor driven on roadways will make it necessary to use plain fuel at higher prices. lol About like legislators to add that provision.

Hm, maybe farmers should band together and build their own private roads connected via adjoining property with closed county roads so that they can cross from section to section. If private they wouldn't even need truck license plates, driver's licenses, etc. then. Lots of tax bucks lost if they didn't go out on public roadways. lol, pipe dream.

Alice In TX/MO · #11 02/25/10, 08:37 PM

How and the U.S. ,<---- note that, legislate this in ONE STATE?

I am so boggled.

DaleK · #12 02/25/10, 08:39 PM

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Surprised it didn't start here in Ontario. I know it's on the table, since some farmers and gravel haulers have started using 60 km/h Fendt tractors and even faster JCBs hauling 35-40' dump trailers of gravel for hire on highways, and in the cities. Truckers don't like having to compete with somebody that can hire any loser with a regular vehicle license to haul the same size load they need an AZ for, and be able to get a break on diesel at the same time.

blooba · #13 02/25/10, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

Tractors/DOT/dyed fuel vs. plain. I wonder if the tractor driven on roadways will make it necessary to use plain fuel at higher prices. lol About like legislators to add that provision.

Hm, maybe farmers should band together and build their own private roads connected via adjoining property with closed county roads so that they can cross from section to section. If private they wouldn't even need truck license plates, driver's licenses, etc. then. Lots of tax bucks lost if they didn't go out on public roadways. lol, pipe dream.

It would just be alot easier to get rid of the ridiculous politicians
Get on the phones, email, snail mail and make your voices heard. There is power in numbers and just 1 more person makes a BIG difference.

Quote:

“For nearly two years, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has sought passage of legislation in Washington which would provide reasonable exemptions for farm vehicles not just in Pennsylvania, but nationally. Because Congress has failed to act, we need to speak even louder,” concluded Shaffer.
Farm Bureau has urged farmers to contact Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators and U.S. House Representatives asking for their help to postpone the proposed regulations until legislation is passed or another solution is found.

fishtrap3 · #14 02/25/10, 08:46 PM

I am with plowjockey on this one!!!!!

rambler · #15 02/25/10, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtrap3

I am with plowjockey on this one!!!!!

I do understand your concern as to semi trucks.

It seems rediculous for tractors, or even 'straight trucks' from pickups to twin screw trucks.

These trucks only run 5 - 20 mile trips most of the time, hauling the grain to the nearest elevator in between combining it.

Logs & timebooks and CDL seems beyond silly for that sort of road use. There is a difference between 8 hour shift driving, and short hauls in smaller trucks.

Rules & regulations should reflect those differences.

--->Paul

**Ross** · #16 02/25/10, 09:41 PM

Dale if someone is using Ag equipment for construction jobs on the road they are already breaking the law. The govt. should enforce the laws that are already there.

DaleK · #17 02/26/10, 04:37 AM

Got this straight from an MTO supervisor Ross. It's been happening in Kitchener-Waterloo for a few years ago, they can't make anything stick.

**Ross** · #18 02/26/10, 07:01 AM

Typical, they can't enforce their poorly written laws so to "fix" things we'll all have to pay.

Bret4207 · #19 02/26/10, 07:57 AM

Okay, as a recently retired NYSP DOT Inspector I'm finding some drastic holes in this story. First off, unless PA adopts the FMCSA rules then the Regs have no effect on INTRASTATE trucking. A commercial vehicle is any vehicle engaged in a commercial enterprise (the opportunity for compensation exists) with a GVWR or combined GVWR exceeding 10,000 lbs. That includes farmers, stock cars, lawn and garden, etc. Now my first question would be if the story is talking about tractors or truck-tractors. A farm tractor seldom meets the definition of a motor vehicle. The same thing goes for implements, although IIRC they are mentioned when engaged in interstate travel.

Logs are not required for travel under 100 air miles for vehicles over 26K GVWr and 150miles for those 10-26K last I knew. So unless something has changed the Fed rules do not apply when staying within a state and 100-150 miles. Same for the Federal Medical card requirements. Same for licensing.

Before everyone goes off you need to find the actual information and see what it says. If PA did like NY a few years back and just adopts the FMCSA rules entirely as State Law then that's not a Federal issue but a State issue.

Donkey · #20 02/26/10, 08:24 AM

heck, my county in pa does not even have emisions testing on cars and trucks