That is one reason agricultural freight remains one of the most consistent freight sectors in the country. California, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and Washington all rank among the nation’s agricultural leaders, but each supports trucking in a different way because the commodities, facilities, and supply chains are rarely the same.

Not Every Agricultural State Depends on the Same Freight

California’s transportation network is built around time-sensitive products. Fresh produce, berries, citrus, lettuce, grapes, and other commodities move quickly through packing facilities before reaching grocery warehouses, food processors, or export terminals. Delays can affect product quality, so refrigerated transportation plays a larger role than in many other agricultural regions.

Grain-producing states operate differently. Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois generate substantial truck traffic, but much of it revolves around storage and processing instead of immediate delivery. Corn and soybeans often leave farms for local elevators, then move again weeks or months later to feed mills, ethanol plants, export terminals, or food manufacturers. One harvest can create transportation activity long after combines leave the field.

Processing Facilities Keep Freight Moving

Harvest is only the beginning of the supply chain. Milling operations, meat processors, dairy plants, vegetable processors, cold storage facilities, and packaging companies continue receiving and shipping products throughout the year.

Nebraska illustrates that pattern well. The state’s cattle industry supports freight moving in several directions at once. Feed arrives at production facilities, livestock moves to processors, refrigerated products leave processing plants, and finished goods continue toward wholesalers and retailers. Similar supply chains exist throughout Iowa and parts of Illinois, where processing generates steady truck traffic regardless of the season.

Exports Create Another Layer of Transportation

Washington and California both produce commodities that serve domestic and international markets. Apples, cherries, potatoes, hops, almonds, walnuts, and other products often pass through packing houses or storage facilities before moving to ports or inland distribution centers.

Those shipments require coordination between growers, processors, warehouses, carriers, and export terminals. The transportation network extends well beyond harvest because products may remain in controlled storage before entering the market months later.

Looking Beyond the Farm

Agricultural trucking is supported by an entire network of businesses rather than farms alone. Equipment dealers, fertilizer suppliers, grain elevators, livestock auctions, food processors, cold storage operators, and distribution centers all contribute to freight activity at different points in the year.

That is why the largest agricultural freight networks are found in states with strong processing capacity and established transportation infrastructure as well as high production. The crops may begin the journey, but much of the truck traffic is created after they leave the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which agricultural products rely most on refrigerated transportation?

Fresh produce, dairy products, meat, berries, leafy vegetables, and many specialty crops typically require refrigerated transportation to maintain food safety and product quality during transit.

Why do grain shipments often move more than once?

Grain is frequently stored after harvest before being sold to processors, exporters, or feed manufacturers. Instead of traveling directly to its final destination, it often moves through several facilities over time.

Which state exports the most agricultural products?

California consistently leads the United States in agricultural export value, shipping products such as almonds, dairy products, pistachios, walnuts, wine, and fresh produce to international markets.

Where can truck drivers follow agricultural production trends?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture publishes crop production reports, acreage estimates, export data, and commodity outlooks throughout the year that help track activity across major agricultural regions.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 5, 2026

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, working alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has issued a temporary waiver aimed at helping fertilizer products reach farms during a period of supply uncertainty.

Federal officials say the action has been taken to address fertilizer shortages affecting American agriculture while maintaining an equivalent level of safety.

Global Supply Issues Prompt Federal Response

According to federal agencies, the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have restricted global fertilizer shipments, creating concerns about supply availability during a critical application period for farmers.

In response, the Department of Agriculture has launched what it describes as a government-wide effort to strengthen fertilizer supplies in the United States.

That effort includes reducing shipping costs, expanding fertilizer production, and cutting regulatory barriers that could slow deliveries to agricultural customers. Transportation is a key part of that strategy, which led to this decision.

Certain Hours of Service and ELD Rules Are Suspended

The waiver applies to motor carriers and commercial drivers transporting straight or blended fertilizer products for commercial farming and agricultural purposes.

Under the temporary relief, certain Hours of Service requirements contained in 49 CFR 395.3 are suspended for qualifying operations.

The waiver also temporarily suspends Electronic Logging Device requirements under 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)(i).

Waiver Remains Active Through August

The emergency relief took effect on May 26 and will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 26.

Drivers and carriers transporting qualifying fertilizer products in covered states may operate under the waiver throughout that period.

States Included in the Waiver

The waiver covers Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

For drivers involved in agricultural freight, the waiver provides temporary regulatory flexibility as federal agencies work to keep fertilizer moving to farms during a critical part of the growing season.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information drivers can use.

Last updated: June 3, 2026

Source: Truckers News

The post FMCSA Temporarily Eases Regulations for Fertilizer Shipments In 36 States appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The initial declaration was first implemented in February, following bird flu outbreaks in California, Iowa, and Louisiana during December 2024 and January 2025. The FMCSA emphasized that the widespread loss of chicken flocks has disrupted local populations and has had a broader impact on the nation’s food supply, particularly affecting egg availability.

Regulatory Requirements for Drivers and Motor Carriers

Under the FMCSA’s extension, drivers and motor carriers supporting emergency operations must abide by a set of specific requirements to ensure safety and proper compliance, including the following rules:

• Delivery Confirmation: Drivers must secure a valid agreement with the receiving facility confirming acceptance of the live chickens before dispatching shipments.

• Driving Hours Limitations:

• • Drivers may not exceed 16 driving hours within any 24-hour period.

• • All driving must cease at 12 a.m. (midnight) daily.

• • Drivers are required to take a six-hour rest period in a sleeper berth before resuming driving.

• Record Maintenance:

• • Drivers must maintain paper-based records of duty status (RODS) and supporting documents for six months. These records must be readily accessible for review by FMCSA officials or law enforcement.

• Valid Driver’s License:

• • Drivers must hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and cannot be under an out-of-service order or have lost driving privileges.

The FMCSA outlined that emergency assistance protocols will expire once a driver or motor carrier transitions to transporting goods or providing services unrelated to the bird flu relief efforts.

For those transitioning from emergency relief to regular operations, drivers must take a mandatory 10-hour rest period if their combined time working on emergency and normal operations reaches or exceeds 14 hours in a day.

A Multi-Front Approach to Combat Bird Flu

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has described a “five-pronged” strategy aimed at tackling bird flu. This plan emphasizes enhanced biosecurity measures, farmer assistance, and ensuring food prices remain affordable amidst the crisis.

According to CBS News, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already committed over $1 billion since 2020 to support egg producers impacted by the bird flu. Additionally, the USDA plans to allocate another $1 billion to mitigate the effects of the ongoing outbreaks.

Source: Land Line

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