Long-standing and sensible PennDOT exemptions for farm vehicles were determined deficient by Washington even though they are typical of farm vehicle laws nationwide.
If Pa has farm vehicle rules and they're typical of laws nationwide.....why would the Fed be so concerned 'states' were applying these rules when there's nothing I found where states are trying to impose cdl licensing and so on.
I stumbled on another interesting tid bit though...it seems if a farm vehicle is required to have a USDOT number on it that vehicle is now subject to EPA regulations....just imagine some bureaucrat sleepless in DC because all the Farmer Browns out there not regulated and not paying federal highway taxes.
Here's something else to ponder:
FMCSR [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations] has a few exemptions for CMV over 26,000GVWR. PA, like MOST states has already adopted the FMCSR 'in toto' regarding CMV.
Farmers are exempt from FMCSR when transporting their OWN products within 150 miles of the farm...the problem is too many farm tractor trailers [CMVs] are also used to transport farm products that do not belong to the farmer.
The state Motor Carrier Enforcement personel have not been checking 'farm' tractor trailers; most likely because they will have a hard time figuring out if it is the farmer's corn; or his neighbors. The Feds want this 'loophole' closed.
CMV drivers must meet 'qualifications' [FMCSR Part 391] by being over 21, physically [medical] certified, etc.
So a farmer w/ storage and a dryer can buy corn from his neighbor, load it in his dump trailer and haul it home, dry it, store it and deliver it to market [within 150 miles] without a CDL and Med Cert. Hauling that same load for his neighbor without taking ownership is commerce and lies outside the exemption.
Traveling w/ farm implements shouldn't be affected but legiscritters need to do something. Here they are passing a law that is already in the books from their adoption fo the FMCSR so I guess they had to add some feel good 'protect the children' stuff too...I think that part is foolish and will be more diffficult to enforce.
BTW CMV drivers can drive 11 hours and work 14 hours [including the driving] and then must take ten hours off.
Those who stay within a 100 air-mile radius [114.3 miles as the crow flys] are exempt from a log IF...they return to their start point within 12 consecutive hours and take ten hours off b/4 returning to work another shift. That won't work for plowing, planting & harvesting...
Say what you wish but there's a whole boat load of articles regarding this subject in my state and several others for the past 4 or so years and a whole lot of upset farmers upset over federal not state regulations. And now suddenly these nice fellows from FMCA are worried about "states applying these reg's unevenly".I'd bet the fed is jacked at the states who apply these rules much like Pa and not the other way around. Think what I just said and you have been claiming.....they are basically the same thing but one from the fed view and one from the states that are farmer friendly view. I think when the fed says these are being applied unevenly they are right.......uneven toward the direction THEY want them not the states that are farm friendly. Fits like a glove for getting farmers under regs of several fed dept's.
I'm having concerns now about posting factual links that would be in direct opposition to progressive left views and the possible legal ramifications if one's head were to explode. Could I be held legally responsible for causing one to pop a gasket in a court of law?