The state Senate has passed legislation intended to ease unpopular new federally mandated restrictions on farmers who operate farm machinery and vehicles on public roads.
Under legislation sponsored by state Sen. Mike Brubaker of Lititz and Sen. John Rafferty of Montgomery County, the Senate voted 50-0 on July 3 for a bill designed to provide some relief to farmers for driving restrictions for farm vehicles carrying loads of more than 17,000 pounds.
The new restrictions, dictated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, went into effect April 24 in Pennsylvania.
They added record-keeping and vehicle rating requirements for drivers of farm trucks similar to what commercial truck haulers must follow.
The legislation passed by the Senate — Senate Bill 1305 — restored some exemptions to those requirements that had been in state regulations.
"The legislation will raise the weight limit exemption to the maximum amount allowed under federal regulation," the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau said in a news release applauding the bill.
"It will allow farmers using small trucks in combination with trailers or farm implements to avoid costly, time-consuming and unnecessary requirements," said Carl Shaffer, bureau president.
However, the legislation, if passed, will not be able to roll back tougher requirements for vehicles with a combined weight of more than 26,000 pounds.
Typical farm trucks moving silage or a full load of grain could exceed the 26,000-pound threshold and be subject to commercial truck regulations, the farm bureau warned.
The farm bureau maintains that farm vehicles driven on roadways in Pennsylvania have not presented a serious safety issue.
Its review of PennDOT records shows that there have been three accidents over the past two years statewide involving farm-plated vehicles with weights in the 17,000- to 26,000-pound range.
There were no injuries in those three, and none was the fault of the farm vehicle driver, according to the farm bureau.
The Senate bill now goes to the state House for consideration.
Welcome to the new TalkBack on LancasterOnline. Please use the comment box below to share your opinion on this article. If you would prefer to use the previous TalkBack forums instead, please use this link.
