New law to give Maryland farmers, agricultural haulers more flexibility - American Farm Publications

A Maryland bill, approved by the General Assembly in April, revises the state’s exceptional hauling permit program to allow heavier trucks carrying farm products to use more direct routes and simplify

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland farmers and agricultural haulers will soon have greater flexibility once again to move their products more efficiently, thanks to a new state law signed this month by Gov. Wes Moore.

A bill, approved by the General Assembly in April, revises the state’s exceptional hauling permit program to allow heavier trucks carrying farm products to use more direct routes and simplify their operations. The law, which reinstates temporary weight allowances approved during the pandemic, takes effect Oct. 1.

The bill creates a new exception that permits trucks hauling fluid milk to travel on interstate highways while operating under an exceptional hauling permit. Previously, such vehicles were restricted to state highways even if an interstate route was more direct and better suited for heavy loads. At least 129 truckers hauling raw milk from Maryland’s 287 dairy farms will benefit from the new law, said Rachel Jones, the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s director of government relations, in written testimony on Feb. 6.

Beyond the dairy industry, the law makes broader changes that apply to all permitted farm haulers. It raises the maximum gross weight limit for five-axle vehicles from 80,000 to 88,000 pounds and for six-axle vehicles to 95,000 pounds. It also allows for greater axle-spacing flexibility and simplifies requirements related to maintenance inspections and hauling documentation.

The bill updates recordkeeping rules for haulers and carriers, clarifying that both the permit holder and any motor carrier transporting farm products under a permit must provide weight and delivery records upon request. Noncompliance can result in permit suspension and temporary ineligibility for future permits.Supporters of the legislation say it offers common-sense improvements for a sector that relies on timely and cost-effective transportation to move goods from farms to processing plants and markets.

“It’s going to be less wear and tear on their farm trucks,” said Zach Evans, executive manager of industry and stakeholder affairs at Mountaire Farms. “It’s going to be less time hauling grain for delivery. … Time is fleeting during harvest.”

Trucks moving broilers may be able to haul up to 720 more birds per load, he said.

The new law also responds to evolving industry practices and federal inspection standards. It allows drivers to carry electronic copies of permits and inspection documents rather than physical copies and aligns maintenance inspection requirements with federal rules used for interstate carriers.

Violations of the updated hauling permit rules can carry steeper consequences. If a vehicle exceeds a weight restriction by more than 5,000 pounds, the permit may be confiscated on the spot by law enforcement. Reinstating a revoked permit will cost $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for a second or subsequent violation within two years. The Maryland State Highway Administration will review each confiscation before deciding whether to revoke the permit permanently.

Although the bill aims to improve efficiency and reduce regulatory burdens, it also gives the SHA discretion to stop issuing or renewing exceptional hauling permits if the agency finds that the program is harming the state’s roads. If that happens, SHA must submit a report explaining its decision to the General Assembly.

Exceptional hauling permits are issued for either a one-year or 30-day period and require a fee. The changes introduced by the bill will apply to new and renewed permits issued after the law’s October effective date.

Maryland joins several other states in updating its farm hauling rules to better reflect the logistical demands of modern agriculture. In Pennsylvania, milk haulers have been allowed to exceed standard weight limits and use interstate highways, with permits enabling gross weights up to 95,000 pounds. Delaware offers overweight hauling permits for a range of agricultural products, including grain, livestock and milk, with allowances up to 90,000 pounds on approved routes. Virginia provides seasonal and commodity-based permits that allow trucks carrying agricultural and forestry products to exceed standard weight limits by up to 10 percent, including access to interstate highways under certain conditions.

Maryland’s new law puts it in step with these neighboring states.

“It’s really sort of a win-win all the way around,” said Holly Porter, executive director of the Delmarva Chicken Association.

The bill was supported by DCA, the Maryland Farm Bureau, the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Association of Forest Industries Inc., among others.

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New law to give Maryland farmers, agricultural haulers more flexibility - American Farm Publications