Motor carrier officers from the Michigan State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will be ramping up inspections across the state this week, including agricultural vehicles.
The effort is part of the annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week.
Officers will be cracking down on drivers who are speeding, following too closely, changing lanes improperly, driving recklessly or carelessly, and the hand-held use of a phone while driving.
During inspections, commercial motor vehicle drivers will be asked to provide operating credentials and hours-of-service documentation. “Farm vehicle drivers” and operators of “covered farm vehicles” have driver licensing exceptions and most drivers operating under these exceptions are not covered by hours-of-service documentation.
“It’s important to be aware of how far the agricultural qualifications go regarding application of the federal motor carrier safety act requirements,” said Craig Anderson, Michigan Farm Bureau ag labor and safety services specialist.
“The driver should be aware of the driver license and paperwork exceptions that are available to farm-related transportation activities and which one(s) the driver and/or vehicle is using.”
While records for daily inspections are not required for most ag-related transportation, the vehicles are required to meet the equipment safety standards under Part 393. These standards will be used for these inspections.
Operations transporting workers will have requirements for vehicles with 9-15 passenger vehicles and additional requirements for vehicles for 16 or more occupants.
Now is also a good time to make sure you have updated your DOT number information through the MCS-150 process. If your number is identified as an “interstate” number, you will have a fee for vehicles used in interstate activities.
To keep updated on exceptions and regulations, download the MI Farmer’s Transportation Guidebook from the Michigan Farm Bureau.
