Agricultural Transportation

Center Resources

Research Publications:

Interstate Farm Vehicle Policy Comparison Study (Apr. 2008)

Statutes

Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania statutes are accessible online through the Unofficial Purdon’s Pennsylvania Statutes website. Be aware that this information is subject to change as a result of subsequent amendments. Please consult an attorney if you are in need of the most up-to-date statutory information.

• Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75)
  • Definitions § 102
  • Vehicles not requiring certificate of title § 1102
  • Vehicles exempt from registration § 1302
  • Use of Farm Vehicle Plates § 1344
  • Use of farm equipment dealer registration plates § 1344.1
  • Requirement for commercial driver’s license § 1606
  • Registration Fees: Farm vehicles § 1924
  • Annual hauling permits § 1943
  • Use of display of illuminated signs § 4307
  • General requirements for braking systems § 4502
  • Slow moving vehicle emblem § 4529
  • Rearview mirrors § 4534
  • Audible warning devices § 4535
  • Bumpers § 4536
  • Operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection § 4703
  • Limits on number of towed vehicles § 4904
  • Width of vehicles § 4921

Regulations

Federal:

• U.S. Department of Transportation (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
  • Regulatory Guidance: Applicability of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to Operators of Certain Farm Vehicles and Off-Road Agricultural Equipment (Notice; request for public comment) (May 23, 2011)
  • General Notice: Regulatory Guidance: Applicability of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to Operators of Certain Farm Vehicles and Off-Road Agricultural Equipment (Notice; extension of public comment period) (June 28, 2011)

Pennsylvania:

• Commercial Manure Hauler and Broker Certification, 7 Pa. Code § 130e.1 
• Implements of Husbandry, 67 Pa. Code § 11.1
• Slow-Moving Vehicle Identification Emblem, 67 Pa. Code § 165.1
• Vehicles required to be inspected, 67 Pa. Code § 175.4
• Oversize and Overweight Loads and Vehicles, 67 Pa. Code § 179.1

Case Law

Some of these cases may be available at a law library or accessible online for those with LexisNexis, Westlaw, or other electronic database accounts.

Pennsylvania Superior Court:

• Commonwealth v. Webbs Super Gro Products, 2010 PA Super 139 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 3, 2010) (holding that a fertilizer spreader is not an implement of husbandry and is not exempt from lighting requirements).
• Commonwealth v. Dugan, 769 A. 2d 512 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001) (finding that a Class A driver’s license is required for a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer which, in combination, weighs 26,001 pounds or more).
• Albert v. Alter, 381 A. 2d 459 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1977) (finding farm vehicles are only excluded from lighting requirements when transporting agricultural products or engaging in work incident to farm operation).

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court:

• G. M. Hapchuk v. Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 1030 C.D. 2006 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007) (holding farm plates are not allowed to be used on trucks hauling septage for use as fertilizer).

Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas:

• In re Wylie, 4 Pa. D. & C. 4th 664 (Butler Ct. Com. Pl. 1990) (holding that the owner of an ATV used exclusively for agricultural purposes was exempt from maintaining financial responsibility on the vehicle)
• Commonwealth v. Ricker, 30 Pa. D. & C. 3d 665 (Columbia Ct. Com. Pl. 1982) (determining a trailer hauling logs is still exempt from registration by 75 Pa. C.S.A § 1302 when the logs are incidental products of the operation of a farm).
• Commonwealth v. Pugh and Muha, 22 Pa. D. & C. 3d 703 (Somerset Ct. Com. Pl. 1982) (finding 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 4903 preempts a township ordinance setting load securing requirements).
• Commonwealth v. Hammond, 4 Pa. D. & C. 2d 577 (Delaware Ct. Com. Pl. 1956) (holding a firm primarily engaged in raising, cultivating, and marketing nursery stock is a “farm” as used in section 401(d) of The Vehicle Code).

Legislative Activity

For an explanation to facilitate reading of legislative bills click here.

Recently Enacted Pennsylvania Legislation (2009-2010 Session):

• House Bill 2246: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (agricultural provisions are contained in §6103 of Bill).

Proposed Pennsylvania Legislation (2011-2012 Session):

• House Bill 2374: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (further providing for definitions; in registration of vehicles, further providing for vehicles exempt from registration; in fees, further providing for farm vehicles; and, in inspection of vehicles, further providing for requirement for periodic inspection of vehicles and for operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection).
• House Bill 156: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (further providing for the registered gross weight limit of certain registration plates, in fees, further providing for annual hauling permits; further providing for use and display of illuminated signs; in excessive size and weight permits, providing for permits to move eggs; and making an editorial change).
• Senate Bill 1521: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (further providing for use of farm vehicle plates).
• Senate Bill 1451: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (further providing for requirement for periodic inspection of vehicles).
• Senate Bill 132: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in inspection of vehicles (further providing for requirement for periodic inspection of vehicles).
• House Bill 1067: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (further providing for securing loads in vehicles: exception in  load securing for “falling, blowing or unintentional dropping” of plant materials from vehicles hauling harvested crops from field to storage).
• House Bill 1076: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (further providing for definitions, for vehicles exempt from registration, for use of farm vehicle plates, for the definition of "commercial vehicle," for general lighting requirements, for requirement for periodic inspection of vehicles, for operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection, for securing loads in vehicles, for safety requirements for towed vehicles and for width of vehicles).
• Senate Bill 155: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (further providing for securing loads in vehicles: exception in load securing for “falling, blowing or unintentional dropping” of plant materials from vehicles hauling harvested crops from field to storage).
• Senate Bill 390: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in registration of vehicles, further providing for vehicles exempt from registration and for use of farm vehicle plates; in commercial drivers, further providing for definitions; and in inspection of vehicles, further providing for requirement for periodic inspection of vehicles, for operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection, for securing loads in vehicles, for width of vehicles and for registered gross weight).
• Senate Bill 396: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (in fees, further providing for annual hauling permits; in excessive size and weight permits, providing for permits to move eggs; and making an editorial change).

Government Agencies

Pennsylvania Resources:

• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Driver & Vehicle Services)
  • Farm Vehicles
  • Farm Vehicle and Equipment Forms, Publications and Related Links
• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
  • Agricultural Vehicles and Transportation

Publications

Government Publications:

• U.S. Dept. of Transportation
  • Agricultural Commodity and Utility Carriers Hours of Service Exemption Analysis (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, May 2010)
• Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture
  • 2010 Changes to the Pennsylvania Motor Carrier Regulations that Impact Agriculture
  • Extension of the Harvest Season (Russell Redding, Secretary, Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture, Mar. 2010)
• Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation
  • Updated Motor Carrier Regulations to Enhance Safety Without Causing Undue  Burdens on Farms or Businesses: Media Release (Mar. 2010)
  • Federal Motor Carrier Regulations Adoption in Pennsylvania: Fact Sheet (Mar. 2010)
  • Farm Equipment Requirements: Fact Sheet (Apr. 2009)
  • Use of Farm Vehicle Plates (Sept. 1994)

Penn State Publications:

• Equine Owners Be Aware of Pennsylvania’s New Vehicle Weight Regulations (Dairy and Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Science)

Links

• Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
  • Amendments to Vehicle Code
  • Combinations
  • Requirements for Drivers of Farm Vehicles
  • Medical Certificates
  • Farm Truck Regulations
  • State Exemption from Federal Commercial Truck Standards
  • Understanding the Impact of Recent Regulatory Changes on Drivers of Farm Vehicles

(Updated May 2013)