HAULS Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 3552
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-20T15:38:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2025 (HAULS Act) aims to update exemptions from federal hours-of-service rules for truck drivers transporting agricultural goods and supplies. These rules limit how long drivers can work without rest to prevent fatigue-related accidents. The bill seeks to broaden these exemptions to better support the agriculture industry while maintaining safety standards.
Key Provisions
- Exemptions for Agricultural Commodities Transport: Drivers hauling agricultural commodities (like crops or livestock) are exempt from hours-of-service limits if operating within a 150 air-mile radius from either the source (e.g., farm) or destination (e.g., market) of the goods. This replaces previous state-specific rules tied to planting and harvest seasons.
- Exemptions for Farm Supplies: Drivers transporting farm supplies, including livestock feed, are exempt year-round, removing prior limits based on seasonal planting or harvesting periods.
- Updated Definition of "Agricultural Commodity": The term now includes:
- Nonprocessed items grown for food, feed, fuel, or fiber (e.g., raw grains or cotton).
- Live nonhuman animals (e.g., fish, insects, livestock) and their unprocessed products (e.g., milk, eggs, honey).
- Items from forestry, aquaculture (fish farming), horticulture (plant cultivation), and floriculture (flower growing).
- Fresh or minimally processed fruits and vegetables (e.g., washed, cut, or ripened but not heavily altered).
- Animal feed and its ingredients.
- Regulatory Update Requirement: The Secretary of Transportation must revise the federal definition of "agricultural commodity" in transportation regulations within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Removes reliance on state-determined seasonal periods for exemptions, creating a uniform national standard based on a fixed 150 air-mile radius.
- Expands the scope of what qualifies as an "agricultural commodity" beyond prior narrower definitions, incorporating more types of raw and minimally processed goods.
- Eliminates seasonal restrictions for transporting livestock feed, allowing exemptions at any time of year.
These changes amend Section 229 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, which originally provided limited exemptions to accommodate agriculture without fully exempting it from safety rules.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Transportation (DOT) and its Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will need to update regulations and enforce the new exemptions, potentially increasing administrative workload in the short term but standardizing oversight nationwide.
- On Citizens: Farmers, ranchers, and rural communities may benefit from faster transport of goods, reducing delays and costs during critical times. Truck drivers in agriculture could work longer hours under exemptions, improving efficiency but possibly raising fatigue risks if not monitored.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. trucking regulations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural Producers and Haulers: Farmers, livestock owners, and truck drivers transporting ag goods gain flexibility in operations.
- Transportation Regulators: DOT and FMCSA must implement and oversee changes.
- Road Safety Advocates and General Public: Could see mixed effects, with potential for more efficient ag supply chains but increased accident risks from extended driving hours.
- Food Industry Suppliers: Benefit from broader inclusion of minimally processed items like fresh produce.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal uniformity in trucking safety exemptions, reducing state-by-state variations that could lead to enforcement inconsistencies. The required rulemaking ensures the changes align with existing transportation codes.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; the bill operates within Congress's authority over interstate commerce and safety regulations under the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Balances industry needs (e.g., agriculture's call for less restrictive rules) with public safety concerns, potentially appealing to rural lawmakers while drawing scrutiny from safety-focused groups. It may influence broader debates on federal vs. state control in transportation policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-12-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (4 pages)