The National Pork Producers Council applauded the reintroduction of federal legislation that would identify barriers to the transportation of agricultural commodities. 

The Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act would establish a working group and “deliver an action plan for reforms that support the continued safe, humane transportation of agricultural commodities.” 

 

Specifically, the bill would reform the Department of Transportation’s Hours of Service and Electronic Logging Device regulations. 

The proposed working group would be comprised of representatives from the transportation and agriculture industries, transportation safety representatives and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

 

Within 120 days of receiving the working group’s report, the transportation secretary must propose regulatory changes to the Hours of Service and Electronic Logging Device regulations, based on the group’s findings and recommendations. 

The legislation was reintroduced last week by Senate Republican John Hoeven of North Dakota, and Senate Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado.