Kansas Wheat works to exempt farmers from new transportation regulations

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The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers is working to exempt farmers from a potentially costly new ruling by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding the definition of interstate transportation.

“We believe that this new definition of interstate commerce will put an unnecessary burden on Kansas wheat producers,” said KAWG President Joe Kejr, a wheat producer from Brookville, Kan. “We are working with other state and national ag organizations to determine a reasonable solution to save producers from undeserved headaches and expenses.”

Farmers are required to apply for an interstate U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number if they are hauling interstate commerce. The number serves as a unique identifier when collecting and monitoring a company’s safety information acquired during audits, compliance reviews, crash investigations and inspections. This new ruling would require farmers that take wheat or other grains to their local elevator to comply with extensive requirements for interstate shipments. This would include things such as a medical exam, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle safety certification, driver files and hours of service requirements.

Under the new ruling, “interstate” applies to a load that is going to leave the state or country, or picking up a load that has come in from out of the state or country. This would include taking a load of wheat from the farm to the elevator (assuming that the wheat in the elevator will go out of state). Wheat delivered to a Kansas flour mill would be considered intrastate, because it would be processed in-state.

The new ruling means that grain produced in Kansas that does NOT ultimately stay in Kansas before it is processed to a different form (flour, feed), would be considered interstate commerce. This would apply to any leg of the shipment within Kansas.

A list of upcoming meetings across the state about interstate regulations for farmers will soon be posted at http://www.kcc.ks.gov/trans/index.htm. For more information, contact the Kansas Wheat office at 785-539-0255.