The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has voiced strong support for the newly introduced Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection (HELP) Act, a legislative effort led by Representative Jeff Hurd of Colorado. This critical bill addresses growing concerns within the livestock transportation industry by seeking to permanently exempt livestock haulers from burdensome Hours of Service (HOS) rules and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandates.
The HELP Act aims to codify exemptions originally issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These exemptions allowed livestock haulers temporary relief from standard regulations to safely deliver live animals without risking their welfare or the supply chain. Since those waivers expired, haulers have once again been required to comply with strict federal rules—rules the NCBA says compromise animal welfare and transporter efficiency.
According to the NCBA, the bill would reinstate permanent exemptions, “providing the flexibility necessary to safely transport livestock.” Skye Krebs, NCBA’s Policy Division Chair and a longtime livestock hauler, highlighted the practical need for the bill.
“When you are hauling cattle, you are dealing with livestock that must be protected from the elements and cannot be easily unloaded until you get to your destination. Livestock haulers need flexibility to complete their trips free from government mandates,” Krebs explained. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, haulers and ranchers like me were granted additional flexibility on hours of service and electronic logging devices. In that time, we proved that we could safely transport our livestock and also support the overall supply chain.”
The introduction of the HELP Act also comes on the heels of another major regulatory shift, as the FMCSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced they would withdraw a proposed rule to mandate speed limiters on trucks. While the NCBA welcomed that move, the organization emphasized that remaining Hours of Service and ELD mandates “continue to pose a threat to drivers.”
The NCBA urges lawmakers to support this common-sense legislation to ensure the safety of both livestock and the professionals who transport them.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet. NCBA Supports HELP Act
HELP Act livestock haulers, NCBA support for HELP Act, livestock transportation regulations, Hours of Service exemption livestock, Electronic Logging Device exemption, FMCSA livestock hauling rules, Skye Krebs NCBA, Representative Jeff Hurd Colorado, cattle hauling safety, livestock hauler flexibility, speed limiter rule withdrawal, livestock supply chain transportation