32 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN October 2024 1/4 Horizontal Nebraska Cattleman Full Color Eisenmenger Farms, Inc. August 2023 “Big yard features, small yard attention.” Eisenmenger Farms, Inc. Joe Eisenmenger, General Manager ▪ Cell: (402) 920-0665 Customer Relations & Cattle Procurement John Eisenmenger, Yard Manager ▪ Cell: (402) 920-1933 ▪ 9,000 head capacity ▪ Within 100 miles of six packers – three of them major ▪ Within 60 miles of four ethanol plants ▪ Grain banking capabilities of corn ▪ Feed financing capabilities 26708 385th St. ▪ Humphrey, NE 68642 ▪ Phone: (402) 923-0401 ▪ Fax: (402) 923-0404 Eisenmenger Farms, Inc. PEERS BEYOND THE LOAD: LEGAL GUIDELINES FOR LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT JESSE FULTON M.S. | NEBRASKA BEEF EXTENSION EDUCATOR AND DIRECTOR OF NEBRASKA BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE Every year, millions of cattle are transported across U.S. highways and interstates. Transporters play an essential role in our industry, often referred to as the “giant moving billboards” of the cattle industry due to their high visibility to the public. Because of this, it is in the industry’s best interest to ensure that our transporters consistently present a positive image. There are two primary areas of concern when it comes to maintaining a positive perception: animal welfare and adherence to state and federal transportation laws. The legal requirements for transporting livestock primarily focus on two aspects: weight limits and hours in transit for both the animals and the driver. To briefly address the legality of transit, federal law states that cattle cannot be in transit for more than 28 continuous hours without being unloaded for at least five consecutive hours to access feed, water and rest. However, there are some exemptions. The 28-hour law does not apply if the animals have access to feed, water and rest during transport, or if unloading is impossible due to accidental or unavoidable causes. Additionally, confinement can be extended up to 36 hours if requested in writing. For the transporters themselves, federal law stipulates that an operator of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) may only operate a CMV for a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty and may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days without taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty. There are a few exemptions. Drivers are allowed to extend the 11-hour maximum driving limit and 14-hour driving window by up to two hours when encountering adverse driving conditions. Additionally, haulers transporting livestock have a 150 air-mile exemption from the point of origin (farm, sale barn, etc.) and destination (pasture, feedlot, etc.) from the hours of service. The topic of weight limits can become complex due to the variety of factors that influence a hauler’s gross limit, such as the weight of the truck and empty trailer, the weight rating of the tires, the number of axles and the distance between the axles. To simplify, this article will focus on the weight limits of the roadways and assess where the industry currently stands based on factual data. In Nebraska, weight limits for CMVs are 80,000 pounds on the interstate and 95,000 pounds on state highways. So, where do we stand today? Let’s assume the average truck and trailer weigh between 30,000 and 37,000 pounds as a starting point. This leaves approximately 43,000 to 50,000 pounds of cattle that can be loaded when traveling via interstate and 58,000 to 65,000 pounds when traveling via state highway. Based on the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit transportation results, the average load of cattle consisted of 36 head. Additionally, using the average hot CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
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