b'that rule are modern and reflect todays Additional HOS exemptions, changes to ourstateandtransportationpartners,marketplace. Anyone hauling livestock the gas tax, and increased truck weight andgrower-advocates,decisionmakersor perishable ag products knows all too regulations are all pieces to the ag trans- inWashingtonarestartingtounder-wellthatunnecessarilydelayingthose portation puzzle and highlight the need stand that HOS and other ag transportshipments can have a huge impact on forourlawsandregulationstobetter rules arent reflective of todays market-the quality of the product. The reality is conform with reality. NPC and our ag place. Were encouraged by the progressthat shipments of potatoes or livestock transportationpartnersarefocusing weve made but know we have a longshould be treated differently than ship- D.C.s attention on the need to create waytogotobringagtransportationments of t-shirts or books. flexibilitiesthatbettermeettothe rules into the 21st Century. unique needs of agriculture. And wereAttimes,HOSrulesrecognizethe making progress.For more insight into these efforts, sub-unique nature of agriculture by includ- scribe to NPCs new Eye on Potatoesing exemptions for truckers picking up Thisyear,theU.S.Departmentof podcast,availableonApplePodcasts,certain types of agricultural commodi- Transportation(DOT)isconsidering Spotify,GooglePodcasts,orwhereverties at the first point of loading farms makingregulatorymodificationsfor youlisten.Inepisode#4,Agor packing sheds. Yet, the rules include HOS. In addition, Congress is consider- Transportation in the 21st Century, weno exemptions for those same truckers ingavarietyofimprovementbills, featurediscussionswithJonSampsonwhen they arrive at a crowded port facil- including House Agriculture Committee from the American Trucking Associationity, where they might move a few feet Chair Colin Petersons proposal to pro- andDominicLaJoie,majorityownereveryhourwaitinginlinetobe vide HOS exemptions for smaller opera- and partner of LaJoie Growers Vegetableunloaded.Thisinconsistencyraises torsandothercertaintypesofopera- OperationsinAroostookCounty,questionsofwhethercomplementary tors.Maine,whotalkabouttheneedtoHOSexemptionshouldbeplacedon addressthetransportationchallengesthat point of unloading.Through the collective efforts of NPC, faced by the potato supply chain. FEBRUARY 2020 POTATO GROWER 13'