it will kill the small farmers all over America...and they will have a fight on their hands should they actually try and implement such a travesty.
DOT has backed off on that regulatory proposal for equipment operators to have a CDL to move down the road. It was just late last week it came out...
I assume that will mean things like 10 hour limits, no licenses for 14 year olds, huge increases in licensing fees, etc. I do not see how this legislation benefits anyone except the larger farm operations (eliminate competition), and whatever tax-collecting entity will get all the additional fees.
These regulations will hit more than just small farmers. Even the porta potties, which are moved from field to field where ever there is vegetable or fruit production have wheels on them & moving them with the ranch/farm pickup truck will require the driver to have a CDL.
For those of you who think this won’t apply to you because YOU don’t raise a crop, etc., think again.
I have horses. I have 2 horse trailers: a 2 horse & a 4 horse.
I cannot for one little second believe that NObama & his minions won’t also consider my horse trailers as “wheeled agricultural equipment”. They won’t differentiate between me & someone who has a large horse raising business.
I have been hauling horses for over 25 years, all over the country. Never had a problem. I don’t need a Commercial license to pursue my hobby, nor does anyone else.
That would lead to many other problems, all of them financial:
a. A Commercial license costs much more to obtain & renew.
B. A full physical, similar to that of a pilot, must be taken & paid for at least every other year.
C. The states may/will come after me & other horse owners to demand a higher registration fee on our horse trailers “because we have Commercial Licenses”.
D. The insurance companies may/will come after us for higher premiums—because we have a Commercial License.
There are many farms in this country where the offspring run field equipment. In states like Kansas, some fields can be miles apart & the equipment is used in one field & then taken to another field- miles away on a county or state road. This has been done for over 100 years & family ranch & farm operations need every family member doing their share.
Does anyone here on FR really believe that ANY state will be willing to give a 14 year old family farm hand a COMMERCIAL LICENSE????
The Amich & Mennonites use horses to pull their “Wheeled Agricultural Equipment”. Are they going to required to have COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSES????? Since they use nothing motorized, how will they pass such an exam???
My hay grower has his wife running the swather & the baler. She would have to have a Commercial License, also. More costs & more paperwork. He’s struggling to grow his crops now. He doesn’t need more interference from a part of the country that can barely spell “BALER”.
Remember: Washington wanted to “retrain” the cattle guards in the Clinton administration. They didn’t even know what a CATTLE GUARD was!!
ANY property that is more than a city lot & has horses-sheep-llamas-chickens-ducks-goats all have “WHEELED AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT”. Feed your animals with an ATV & a small trailer? That qualifies. Need a CDL!!! I feed by hand with a wheelbarrow!!! That is “WHEELED EQUIPMENT”!!!! Need a CDL!!! Plow your private driveway with a jeep or ATV & a small plow? Need a CDL!!!
Even your favorite grower that comes to your local Farmer’s Market weekly or more often has “WHEELED EQUIPMENT”—even if it is a small trailer that is pulled by a Honda ATV!! They need a CDL!!! To bring your favorite veggies & fruits into their roadside selling location!! How much impact will that be to their operations??
My sister in law used to grow a fine garden. She used a plain kids “little red wagon” to move her harvested items from the garden to the house. She sometimes gave stuff away, but I don’t think she ever sold anything. Would that ‘little red wagon’ qualify as “Wheeled Agriculture Equipment’. Should she need a CDL???
How about your grandma who grew the best berries & rhubarb & tomatoes? Want to have her be required to have a CDL????? I grew up in Wisconsin & I saw many an elderly person, both male & female who did the bulk of the family gardening. Wouldn’t want them to be required to have a CDL, tho.
The loss of those family workers will be beyond destructive. This is another effort at killing off the American rancher & farmer. It is also another blatant attempt at keeping Americans from growing their own food.
NObama & the DOT & any other Washington agency needs to BUTT OUT!!!!!!!
The wording I have heard says: “ALL WHEELED AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT” which includes many items which have no engines or self-propulsion. It would be much more wide ranging than tractors, etc.
Farmers just need to convert to providing dung and bio gas green energy solutions.
Millions in stimulus loans are available from the government(from taxpayers) for green energy solutions. These loans don't even need to be paid back if you contribute to Democrats. Regulations are minimized.