To some it might not be a big deal; but to those of us that may haul a load of hay2 to 15 miles 6 to 10 trips a year it would be a PIA

Laws are often made and enforced because of a lack of common sense by people, and money for the government.

I believe these laws will come to be sometime, for a couple reasons, mainly money and secondly because many people are abusing this exemption.

I don't know about other parts of the country, but around here this time of year you can't hardley drive down the road without someone with a big round bale on the front and one on the back of a tractor.  Which is fine for the newer larger tractors that can handle them, not so much for the older smaller tractors.  It is not uncommon for a death or two a year from someone tipping over a too small tractor for these loads.  It is not uncommon for a tractor loaded like such to be driving down a state paved highway at dusk with no lights or flashers.  There was a death in my county last year from a tractor with a 50' drag attached, the farmer forgot to turn on his flashers, no lights behind the drag, and a 20 year old came over a small hill and crashed right into the back, right at dusk.  My county is full of amish.  They don't own tractors, they rent or borrow them.  They usually get older tractors (cheap), no flashers, dragging half falling off round bales down the highway, and they don't quit when it starts to get dark.  Many farmers around here have their own grain trucks/semi.  They hire out to haul others grain, but try to fall under farm exemption, when they are clearly for hire.  The local DOT is already cracking down here, watching how many trips a truck makes to the grainery, to see if it is for their own farming or hiring out to others.

I know these examples are extreme, but these are the type of issues people around here are yelling about.  Is it that bad to make sure someone must have a light at the end of their load after dusk?  Is it out of the question someone might have to strap down a load of hay?  Is it outrageous that someone that has no drivers license (amish) isn't permitted to drag 30,000 lbs. down a state highway?  Or is that much safety too much a PIA.  Every other business in America has to abide by these rules.

Small fire extinguisher would bolt right to a fender, just like my forklift.  A box of 3 triangles are no larger than a tractor tool box.  If you are driving less than 100 miles and in the same state you don't need log book, medical card, or CDL if less than 26001 lbs.  A pickup with trailer/hayrack might weigh 20000 lbs. if the truck is a diesel.  Only haul 5,000 of hay or less at a time.  Or get a class A CDL if you want to haul more, it's not that hard.

People are abusing the exemption.  This proposal is probably not directed to most of the people on this site.  But because we fall into the same catergory, we will need to abide if passed.

I took my Class A CDL in a one ton pickup with a 30' gooseneck flatbed trailer in the state of Iowa.  The pickup needs to be registered for over 26001 lbs. though, and the trailer over 10k.  I cannot drive anything with airbrakes unless I test with something with air brakes.

Good luck on getting anything from DOT in writing. Good luck on getting a straight answer from the main office of DOT.

I dont have a problem with CDL either when I am towing.  Problem comes in when you get stopped towing.  Now I would have to have a log book, fire extinguisher, road side markers, etc.  All of this crap just because I am over 26k combined.  RV still dont need them even if they are over 26k.  That is BS.

Also if you have a CDL and your not towing you better be on your p's and q's.  Get stopped they have little mercy on you as well then too.  They see it as your supposed to be a professional driver and should know the law.  Its true I have couple of state trooper friends.  That is BS.

With the log book now I am required to stop for 8 hrs before driving again.  I make 18hr trips or better now nonstop.  That would come to an end as well or I would need a relief driver and they too would be required to have CDL.  Mainly my old lady.  What a joke.

There are way too many variables and the dumbasses pushing for them do not want or care they just want it and honestly they have no reason probably for knowing why other than REVENUE.  Greed is ruining this country.

"So common Sense to me would be fine the fire out of the people that are operating unsafely."

I believe you are correct.  That is why the DOT wants to do away with farm exemptions, so they can.  More for $ than safety.

As to the 18 hours straight of one person driving a large vehicle straight through, that's your call.  You can however drive longer than 8 hours legally with a log book.  Especially if you aren't driving every day.

I am no anti-farm.  Born and raised on a dairy farm.  I used to drive chopper boxes and loads of hay down the road all summer.  I usually tried to stay on the shoulder.  The point I was trying to make is this: 

We are driving on public roads.  I was not talking even so much about horse trailers as loads of hay and equipment.  If you want to drive a big truck with a big trailer down a public road and it is for something more than going on a trail ride, some day you will have to adhere.  Millions of people already do.  If you don't want to, get a small truck and a small trailer.  If you want to drive your truck/tractor with large round bales half falling off on your own property, maybe without proper flashers, maybe with a tractor too small for the load- fine.  When you drag it out on the state highway you are not just risking your safety, but everyone that passes by you on that road.

I'm not saying I'm right and others are wrong.  I'm giving you my opinion. And the DOT and the broke government is going to look for ways to get even more money.  Lifting the exemption on farmers driving on the road is going to be one.

State makes decision not to require CDLs for farmers

http://www.sidneyherald.com/articles/2011/08/11/news/breaking_news/doc4e44023f151e8025776475.txt