The Department of Transportation wants to provide an exemption for truckers carrying live lobsters that would allow drivers to go over their road-time limits, according to an agency document obtained by POLITICO.
The DOT is seeking to insert the exemption in the upcoming surface transportation bill; Congress would have to approve the language.
The administration argues the exemption would cut costs. “This would support these types of aquatic industries transporting live animals potentially to keep costs down for harvesters, and, in turn, consumers,” the proposal said.
The proposal would expand the definition of agricultural commodity to include “living aquatic animals,” such as “wild-caught lobsters,” a change that would permit drivers carrying lobsters and other living aquatic animals to qualify for an exemption that lets them go past their hours of service caps.
