Wet harvest gives Ohio farmers reprieve from trucking regs

COLUMBUS — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has granted temporary regulatory relief from the hours-of-service requirements for drivers operating commercial motor vehicles that transport agricultural products within Ohio.

The regulatory relief is effective immediately and will expire at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1, 2012.

The PUCO granted the temporary waiver to allow farmers and agribusinesses with additional time to complete their annual operations following an uncharacteristically wet planting season and a delayed harvest.

Carriers subject to this regulatory relief are not exempt from any other motor carrier safety regulations.