There have been a lot of stories, blogs and concern about the recent request for comments from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding whether they should be regulating implements of husbandry and considering farmers as "for hire" if they have a 50/50 cost share agreement with a landowner. 

 

The ag organizations, including IFCA, ARA, TFI and the Farm Bureau have been working very hard to provide facts and common sense approaches to FMCSA on this issue.  Illinois Farm Bureau invited the top management at FMCSA to Illinois so that they see for themselves what farm equipment looks like and how farmers and ag retailers operate.  This week, on August 10th, IFCA is hosting FMCSA at the Brandt Consolidated facility in Lexington, IL to show them the various implements that ag retailers use, including nurse tanks, tool bars, tractors, floaters and sprayers.  Our goal is to illustrate that these implements are necessary for agriculture and are primarily designed for crop production purposes, not for over-the-road transportation.  IFB is also taking FMCSA to a grain elevator to explain how and when grain is exported, and they will also visit an ethanol plant and numerous farms to better understand the business of farming and grain transportation. 

 

This is a great opportunity to interact one-on-one with FMCSA and fully explain how our industry works.  We will keep you posted as FMCSA makes its final determination on how the motor carrier safety regulations will apply to agricultural transportation activities.