Andrew DuBois

Staff Writer

   Learning that you need a federal license to drive your tractor on your farm might be confusing, but sadly, in the near future it might be true. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants to reclassify all farm equipment as Commercial Vehicles. If this proposal were to take effect, farmers would have to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), a license for larger vehicles, to drive their tractors.  Previously, professions that required workers to get a CDL included truckers and bus drivers, but not farmers.

    To some, this might sound like a good idea; requiring farmers to get a CDL requires they prove their ability to operate the vehicle safely. The drawback would be the strict regulations that accompany a CDL.  For example, if a farmer gets one DUI, he no longer is eligible for a CDL.  With no CDL, he can’t manage the farm.

    This regulation, along with the pile of other strict regulations, burdens the already struggling industry. As Bruce Pearce told the Gazette Virginian, “It’s absurd, we’re being regulated out of business. I can see where you would need to take precautions if you take these things out on the interstate, but on the farm is a different story.”  Farmers across America agree. Does it really make sense to force regulations on farm equipment like this?

    The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a statement in which Anne S. Ferro, Administrator for the FMCSA, said that in most cases farm equipment doesn’t fall under federal truck safety regulations but the lines of distinction between what equipment does and doesn’t fall under their jurisdiction aren’t clear. They aim to clarify what falls under their jurisdiction with this proposal.

    Even the White House agrees that strong farming communities are essential to the prosperity of our country. As they recently established the new White House Rural Council with the goal of protecting our rural communities in mind. If this proposal were to take effect then it would have a negative effect around the country. The benefit of requiring farm owners to get a CDL does not outweigh how much it could hurt us. 

    The FMCSA allowed comments to be sent in on their official website about this proposal for a time but sadly the period to send in a comment is over. Concerned students can write to our elected officials here in Kentucky. It is their job to make sure our concerns are addressed.