Pennsylvania is meeting a federal deadline to update its motor carrier safety regulations while ensuring the rules do not place an onerous burden on farmers or businesses, state officials recently announced.

The process to change the state's regulations began after a March 2007 audit cited a number of noncompliance issues. Pennsylvania is one of nearly 25 states that has been audited.

Pennsylvania has to update its motor carrier safety regulations by Wednesday to avoid federal penalties, including the loss of about $6 million in federal funds that support state police motor carrier enforcement. The loss of that funding could jeopardize an effective enforcement program, which would have triggered additional penalties, including the loss of about $22 million in federal highway funds.

Pennsylvania has taken steps to ensure farmers are not overly burdened by the new regulations.

One example is the rules provide some exemptions during the growing season, which the commonwealth is now extending to year-round instead of just nine months.

Today, farming is a 24-hour-per-day, seven-day-a-week responsibility with no offseason. Having a planting and harvesting season in Pennsylvania that is year-round supports state producers in their efforts to compete in national and global marketplaces.

Other states, including Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia, already designate harvest seasons covering the calendar year.

The new rules do not apply to farm tractors and other farm equipment in tow that travel on roads. State law already permits such non-truck vehicles on the roads. Licensed drivers younger than 18 can continue to operate any vehicle or combination of vehicles under 17,000 pounds.

These are some of the changes in the new rules, which now comply with federal standards:

n Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted to drive a truck-trailer farm vehicle combination exceeding 17,000 pounds on public roads.

• Operators of single-unit farm vehicles traveling more than 150 miles from the farm must possess a medical certification.

• A record of vehicle maintenance must be kept for a single unit farm vehicle exceeding 17,000 pounds operating under a certificate of exemption.

• A pre- and post-trip inspection must be completed for a single unit farm vehicle greater than 17,000 pounds operating under a certificate of exemption.

These are some of the exemptions included in the rules:

• Hours of service requirements and the keeping of logs and time records are waived during the growing season, while operating within a 100-mile radius.

• Pre-employment road testing and obtaining driving history requirements for drivers of farm vehicles are waived. The vehicle must be operated within 150 miles of the farm in order for this waiver to apply.

• Non-Commercial Driver's License farm truck drivers who operate beyond the 100-mile radius but within 150 miles of their normal work reporting location will not be required to keep logs, but will be subject to hours limitations and time keeping requirements.

• Operators of single-unit farm vehicles within 150 miles of the farm are exempt from possessing a medical certification.

Much of what was in the former regulations continues unchanged, including rules covering inspections and record-keeping for any vehicle weighing more than 17,000 pounds.

Federal funding is essential for motor carrier enforcement efforts in Pennsylvania. For example, in January, state police stopped two tractor-trailers carrying more than three tons of illicit drugs worth about $25 million on Interstate 81 near Harrisburg.

Effective and common-sense regulations contribute to a safe driving experience for everyone, and Pennsylvania will work with the farm and truck communities to ensure drivers understand the rules and appreciate our efforts are intended to help, not impede, Pennsylvania's economy.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.