FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6180

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: Commercial motor vehicles are regulated at both the state and federal level. Generally, commercial motor vehicle drivers are limited to a certain number of hours of service—driving—per day under federal law, which are required to be recorded in a log book—record of duty status—that must be presented to law enforcement upon request. Under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was directed to adopt new rules requiring the use of an electronic log device (ELD), which automatically records engine run times and hours of operation. ELD rules went into effect in December of 2017.

There are a number of exemptions to both the federal hours of service rules and the record of duty status—log book and new ELD—rules, some of which apply to agricultural operations. During the defined planting and harvesting season, agricultural operations are exempted from both the hour of service rules and the requirement to keep a log book. Federal law allows for each state to define the planting and harvesting seasons applicable to the state.

Under current administrative rule, the Washington State Patrol has adopted many of the federal motor carrier regulations for hours of service and record of duty status, and has defined the planting and harvesting season for Washington as February 1, through November 30 of each year.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	47	0
House	97	1