TFI wins hours of service exemption for fertilizer in the US

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch recently applauded the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for including fertilizer in the list of products covered by the agency's Hours of Service (HOS) emergency declaration. This inclusion will help avoid any potential bottlenecks in the fertilizer supply chain during these challenging times.

"First of all, we thank Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao and FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen for adding fertilizer to the essential commodities list," Rosenbusch said. "At the end of the day, it's about putting food on Americans' tables. Fertilizer relies on a safe and efficient transportation network to get crop nutrients to farmers where and when they need them. With the spring planting session upon us, any delays could lead to farmers not getting the essential crop nutrients when and where they are needed to grow the food, fuel and fiber our world needs."

TFI requested that fertilizer be added to the emergency declaration in a letter to Secretary Chao on Wednesday, urging that fertilizer is an essential precursor to food production and that the time-sensitive nature of fertilizer delivery warranted fertilizer's inclusion. On Thursday, FMCSA responded by releasing an amended list that included fertilizer.

"Because of Secretary Chao and Acting Administrator Mullens' actions, farmers across the country will be able to rely on the safe and timely delivery of fertilizer on which our food security depends," Rosenbusch concluded.