Agricultural Commodity and Utility Carriers Hours of Service Exemption Analysis

Abstract

The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 compares the safety performance of agricultural and non-agricultural carriers for the period 2005 through 2008, and also examines two additional industries: livestock and utility carriers, whose operations were not exempt from Hours Of Service (HOS) regulations prior to the 2005 passage of SAFETEA-LU. The Phase 1 analysis used carrier registration, inspection, and crash data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). Key findings were that, nationally, agricultural carriers operating within a 100-air-mile radius had lower crash rates per 100 power units than those operating beyond this radius, except for 2008, when there was no difference in the crash rates. Also, agricultural carriers exempt from HOS had higher out of service (OOS) and/or violation rates than non-exempt carriers for regulations pertaining to driver qualifications, vehicle maintenance, and improper loading and securement. For the Phase 2 analysis, inspection data of agricultural commodity and utility carriers was collected during a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) special study of a sample of States. These data included only those inspections occurring during the States’ planting and harvesting seasons. Key finding were that agricultural carriers in the survey operating beyond a 100-air-mile radius had a statistically higher driver OOS rate than those driving within a 100-air-mile radius, but those operating within a 100-air-mile radius had a statistically higher vehicle OOS rate. Also, agricultural carriers in the survey that were subject to the HOS requirements had higher crash rates per 100 power units than agricultural carriers that were exempt from the HOS requirements. Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 analyses have data limitations.