Little Apple Times

Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann from Kansas introduced a new legislative measure aimed at improving the agricultural supply chain by removing regulatory barriers for heavy vehicle operators renewing their commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act proposes to enable seasonal drivers to renew their CDLs online and provide more flexibility in the types of commercial vehicles they can operate. This comes as the American Trucking Association predicts a shortage of 115,000 truck drivers nationwide by the end of 2025.

Rep. Mann stated, “Successfully feeding, clothing, and fueling the world doesn’t stop when crops are harvested... Our bill strengthens the entire agricultural supply chain by enacting commonsense reforms that make it easier for farm-service drivers to simply do their jobs and serve customers and consumers.”

The legislation has been co-sponsored by several other representatives including Jeff Hurd from Colorado, Ron Estes from Kansas, Randy Feenstra from Iowa, Brad Finstad from Minnesota, among others. Rep. Mike Flood commented on the bill saying it "delivers commonsense wins that will make it easier for the ag sector to keep essential goods moving."

Various agricultural organizations have expressed support for this initiative including state-level associations like the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and national groups such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association praised the bill stating it "empowers retailers to operate more efficiently," while Peter Friedmann of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition emphasized its importance in maintaining U.S. competitiveness in global agriculture markets.

The proposed legislation aims to address chronic driver shortages by allowing increased load capacities and reducing administrative burdens during peak seasons according to Grace Howe from Wisconsin Agri-Business Association.

Dana Brooks from Pet Food Institute also backed Rep. Mann’s proposal citing its potential benefits for pet food manufacturing which relies heavily on U.S.-produced ingredients.

Tanner Hoversland representing Montana's agricultural businesses remarked that this is a good government policy aiding rural operators facing various challenges.