New Hours Rules for Livestock and Insect Haulers

Summary#

Bill C-385 changes the federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act to set hours-of-service rules in the Act and to create a special rule for drivers who transport livestock or insects. Time spent driving or on duty within 240 kilometres of the trip’s start or end would not count toward the daily maximum hours for those drivers. The exact hour limits remain to be “prescribed” (set by regulation) (Bill s. 2(1); s. 16.1(1)(d.1), (j)).

• Creates a 240-km radius exemption at both origin and destination for livestock and insect loads (Bill Exception referencing ss. 11–12).
• Keeps core daily driving/on‑duty limits and mandatory off‑duty periods, to be set by regulation (Bill ss. 11–12; s. 16.1(1)(d.1)).
• Applies to extra‑provincial motor carrier undertakings only (interprovincial/international trucking) (Bill ss. 11–12).
• Lets carriers designate when a driver’s “day” starts, if kept the same for at least 7 days (Bill s. 11(3)).
• Expands regulation‑making powers to define “driver,” “on‑duty,” and “off‑duty” (Bill s. 16.1(1)(d.1), (j)).

What it means for you#

• Households

  • No direct change to consumer rights or fees. Any effect on delivery timing of animals or insects is indirect. Data unavailable.

• Workers (drivers hauling livestock or insects, extra‑provincial)

  • Hours spent within 240 km of the trip’s start and within 240 km of the trip’s final destination will not count toward your daily driving or on‑duty caps (Bill Exception referencing ss. 11–12).
  • You may be able to work or drive longer in a day on qualifying trips because some time will not count toward the cap (Bill Exception).
  • Your “day” can start at a company‑designated hour, if kept for at least 7 consecutive days (Bill s. 11(3)).
  • Mandatory off‑duty periods still apply as prescribed by regulation (Bill s. 12).

• Businesses (livestock shippers, processors, auction markets, beekeepers, carriers)

  • You can schedule pickups and deliveries to use the 240‑km buffers at both ends of qualifying trips. Time in those zones will not count toward daily caps (Bill Exception).
  • You will need clear records of the true origin and final destination to support the exemption during inspections (Bill Exception).
  • Dispatch, routing, and logging processes may need updates to reflect the new counting rules (Bill ss. 11–12).

• Other carriers and shippers (non‑livestock/insects)

  • No change. Standard hours‑of‑service rules continue to apply as prescribed by regulation (Bill ss. 11–12).

• Governments and enforcement

  • Inspectors will need to verify 240‑km radii from the declared origin and destination and check records accordingly (Bill Exception).
  • Regulators may issue guidance and definitions for “driver,” “on‑duty,” and “off‑duty” to support consistent enforcement (Bill s. 16.1(1)(d.1), (j)).

Expenses#

• Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• Key points

  • No explicit appropriations or fees are created by the bill (Bill text).
  • It changes how certain hours are counted for a subset of federally regulated drivers (Bill Exception referencing ss. 11–12).
  • Any administrative or enforcement costs to update regulations, guidance, or training: Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Improves animal care by helping drivers reach farms, markets, or plants without forced stops near the end of a run, reducing time animals wait on trucks (Bill Exception referencing ss. 11–12). Assumes facilities can receive animals promptly.
• Targets time‑sensitive loads (livestock and insects) that have special handling needs, without changing rules for other freight (Bill Exception).
• Reduces handoffs or layovers near origin/destination, which can lower handling and detention costs for shippers and carriers. Data unavailable.
• Provides clearer legal authority to define terms and set detailed hour limits by regulation, allowing updates as conditions change (Bill s. 16.1(1)(d.1), (j)).

Opponents' View#

• Road safety risk: Excluding up to 240 km at both the start and end can extend effective daily driving/on‑duty time beyond normal caps, increasing fatigue risk near loading areas and population centres (Bill Exception referencing ss. 11–12). Assumes drivers use the full exemption.
• Enforcement complexity: Verifying the 240‑km radii and true origins/destinations adds record‑keeping burden and potential for disputes or misuse (Bill Exception).
• Unequal treatment: Other perishable or time‑sensitive goods do not receive similar flexibility, raising fairness concerns (Bill Exception).
• Animal welfare risk: If carriers lengthen total trip times to use the exemption, animals could face longer transport durations unless managed carefully. Assumes existing care standards are unchanged.