The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed a temporary exemption from Hours of Service rules for truckers carrying anhydrous ammonia, as long as the trucker is carrying the ammonia to a farm retailer or an end user located within 100 miles of the ammonia’s distribution point. The proposed exemption would extend an exemption granted on May 21, 2010.
Hours of Service rules are intended to prevent truck drivers from becoming overly fatigued by driving for too long. Fatigued or sleepy truck drivers are the cause of many truck accidents in Missouri and throughout the U.S. each year, some of them fatal. Normally, FMCSA strictly enforces Hours of Service rules in order to ensure the safety of both truck drivers and the motorists with whom large trucks share the road.
The proposed exemption, however, takes into account that during the growing season, farmers often need large quantities of fertilizer or other chemicals at precisely the right times in order to produce the best possible crop. If no driver is available to deliver anhydrous ammonia to farmers on time, the farmer’s crops could suffer. FMCSA’s proposed exemption attempts to balance the needs of farmers for fertilizer against the needs of truck drivers for proper rest.
The public may comment on the proposed exemption until August 13, 2010. Comments may be mailed to Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W-12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 20590-0001. They may also be faxed to 1-202-493-2251.
If you or someone you love has suffered injury in a Missouri truck accident due to truck driver fatigue, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced St. Louis trucker fatigue accident attorneys at Page Law. Our skilled lawyers will help you understand your legal rights and help you obtain compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, loss of wages, and other damages. Call (314) 322-8515 today to schedule a free consultation.
