HR4500-119

What This Bill Does

The HELP Act creates a targeted trucking exemption for covered livestock hauling vehicles. A covered livestock hauling vehicle, including the individual operating it, is exempt from federal hours-of-service requirements under title 49 chapters 311 and 315 and from electronic logging device requirements under section 31137. The exemption also applies when the vehicle is unladen while picking up livestock or returning after delivery. Covered vehicles are commercial motor vehicles transporting livestock, insects, or aquatic animals. The bill uses the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act definition of livestock and also includes insects, other living animals raised for commercial purposes, and live aquatic animals that have been caught, taken, or harvested.

Who Benefits and How

FMCSA-regulated livestock haulers benefit from exemption from federal hours-of-service limits and electronic logging device requirements. Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act livestock producers benefit if transporters can move covered animals without ELD or hours limits interrupting trips. Commercial insect producers benefit because covered livestock hauling includes insects raised for commercial purposes. Live aquatic animal harvesters benefit because the covered cargo definition includes harvested live aquatic animals.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must treat covered livestock hauling vehicles as exempt from the listed requirements. Department of Transportation highway safety officials lose hours-of-service and ELD oversight for covered livestock hauling trips. Drivers may face fatigue risk if carriers use the exemption for longer trips without ordinary hours limits. General freight carriers remain subject to requirements that covered livestock haulers avoid.

Key Provisions

• Provides an hours-of-service exemption under title 49 chapters 311 and 315 for covered livestock hauling vehicles and operators.
• Provides an electronic logging device exemption under title 49 section 31137 for covered livestock hauling vehicles and operators.
• Extends the exemption to unladen vehicles picking up livestock or returning after delivery.
• Provides cargo coverage for Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act livestock, insects, other commercially raised living animals, and live aquatic animals.