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Alabama
Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) Commissioner Ron Sparks
said if the "old" law had been enforced, "small farmers
in loaded vehicles weighing less than 26,001 pounds would have had to
jump through the same hoops as someone driving one of those huge
18-wheelers."
Sparks
said the 1989 law was not fully enforced, probably due to manpower
shortages in ADPS. But, he added, once federal officials ordered it be
done "or else," things began to change.
"Basically,
those in charge of public safety were told that if they didn’t start
enforcing the law as it had been written, they stood to lose more than
$3 million in federal funds," Sparks said, during an interview with
the Cooperative
Farming News.
Most
of that money, he said, was used to buy new trooper vehicles and other
needed equipment.
"So,
with a stroke of a pen, it was decided to begin enforcing the 1989
law," added Sparks. "That’s when we got together to do
something about it."
In
addition to AFC and ADAI, other groups in the coalition included Alabama
Farmers Federation (Alfa), Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama
Poultry and Egg Association, Alabama Department of Revenue and ADPS.
The
result was a new law signed on May 13 by Gov. Bob Riley. It involves
exemptions and exceptions and is somewhat confusing.
That
is why meetings have started and will continue to be held throughout the
state between now and the end of the year.
The
first two, sponsored by the Alfa, were held in July in Cullman and
Baldwin counties. Other groups will be holding their own meetings with
farmers in the coming months.
AFC’s
CEO, Tommy Paulk praised the efforts of others involved when
he said, "We are grateful we have in Ron Sparks a Commissioner of
Agriculture who will go to the mat for Alabama’s farmers. Commissioner
Sparks led the effort to get this law passed, bringing together groups
from all over the state, including the Alabama Department of Public
Safety, led by Col. Chris Murphy, who has wisely taken a common sense
approach to this important issue. We are also grateful to Alfa president
Jerry Newby and the entire Alfa organization for their tireless efforts
on behalf of this legislation."
A
key part of the law signed by Riley raises the exemption of farm
vehicles hauling products from 10,001 pounds to 26,001 pounds.
What
it does is eliminate the prospect of requiring Alabama farmers to meet
specific Federal Motor Carrier Act regulations.
"A
nice-sized Ford F150 hauling a trailer could easily weigh more than
10,000 pounds and farmers could wind-up being ticketed," said
Jeffery Webb, legal advisor to the ADAI. "That’s why the
exemption is so important."
Another
helpful provision for farmers involves a 150-mile "safety
zone" for hauling goods.
Webb
said farmers taking their goods to market within that 150-mile area
would not be considered the same as large tractor-trailers are now.
"A
loaded grain truck can weigh much more than 26,000 pounds," said
Webb. "Under the new law signed by the governor, if the haul is 150
miles or less, Alabama farmers would be exempt from the federal
requirements."
The
exception, Webb said, would involve farmers who might hire commercial
truckers to take their goods to market. If that happens, the other
carrier would fall under the federal requirements.
Webb
pointed out most silos are closer to farms than 150 miles. He also cited
that longer than usual hauls only occur about two or three times a year
during specific harvesting seasons.
Sparks
had special praise for Col. Chris Murphy, the new director of ADPS.
Sparks said Murphy "went out of his way" to work with
agriculture to make sure farmers "get a break."
The
agriculture commissioner emphasized that concern over trucker safety
remains one of his priorities.
"We
want safety on our highways, too," said Sparks. "Farmers need
to know it is important to have their truck blinkers working properly,
to have fire extinguishers, proper brakes and so much more."
Sparks
was pleased with the new law because "we don’t want to put mom,
pop and granddad into a bind if they’re just hauling goats to a
sale."
"We
want our highways to be safe, but farmers shouldn’t be required to
have a special medical card, a log book showing how many miles they’ve
driven, how much sleep they’ve had or other things like that when they’re
just making a short, routine trip," remarked Sparks.
Webb
agreed, saying enforcement of more stringent Federal Motor Carrier Act
requirements "would turn anybody who is hauling anything into a
truck driver."
"We
wanted to avoid that," said Webb. "Our farmers shouldn’t
have to have a commercial driver’s license, a health card in their
wallet or a Department of Transportation number posted on their
vehicle."
Alfa
meetings set for this month to discuss the new law will be held on Aug.
9 at 3:15 p.m. at the Cahaba Grand Conference in Birmingham; Aug. 11 at
5:30 p.m. at the Perry Recreation Center in Ozark and Aug. 12 at 5:30
p.m. at Alfa’s home office auditorium in Montgomery.
Alvin
Benn is a freelance writer from Selma. |
