To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 concerning the applicability of hours of service requirements to drivers operating commercial motor vehicles transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies.

February 25, 2003

Mr. BEREUTER (for himself and Mr. MORAN of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 concerning the applicability of hours of service requirements to drivers operating commercial motor vehicles transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. OPERATION OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES TRANSPORTING AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND FARM SUPPLIES.

(a) EXEMPTIONS FROM HOURS OF SERVICE REQUIREMENTS-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 345(c) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (49 U.S.C. 31136 note; 109 Stat. 613) is amended by striking `other than paragraph (2)' and inserting `other than paragraph (1) or (2) of such subsection'.

(2) EFFECT ON PREVIOUS ACTIONS- The exemption provided by section 345(a)(1) of the National Highway System Designation Act (49 U.S.C. 31136 note; 109 Stat. 613) shall be effective notwithstanding any action taken by the Secretary of Transportation under section 345(c) of such Act before the date of enactment of this Act.

(b) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY DEFINED- Section 345(e) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (49 U.S.C. 31136 note; 109 Stat. 614) is amended--

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

`(3) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY- The term `agricultural commodity' has the meaning given that term by section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).'.

END