IFCA is asking our members to please send in a short letter of support to IDOT on the proposed changes to the Hours of Service exemption for the transportation of agricultural inputs.  After years of hard work and exhaustive efforts by the industry at the state and federal level, the exemption from driving time limitations is once again back in state and federal laws.  Illinois DOT is updating the IL Vehicle Code to assure the adoption of the exemption for the transportation of all agricultural inputs between all distribution points, and expanding the air mile radius to 150 miles (currently it is 100 miles if operating just within Illinois).  A one page sample letter is posted here that you can modify for your company and send to IDOT.  You need to send the letter before September 16, 2013 if possible.  IFCA has already submitted a detailed letter of support to IDOT.  We are very fortunate to have a very professional state DOT regulatory agency that is responsive to the needs of the agricultural industry; it is a pleasure to work with the staff in the IDOT Division of Traffic Safety and we thank them for working with IFCA to promulgate this rulemaking!