SearchWhat the source says
Federal transportation rules contain agricultural and covered-farm-vehicle provisions, but the result depends on the vehicle, driver, commodity, route, ownership, placarding, and movement facts. A farm label alone does not decide the federal treatment.
Sources checked August 18, 2026 · This guide maps selected 49 CFR Parts 390, 391, and 395 provisions relevant to farm commodity movements, hours of service, and electronic logging devices. It does not classify a particular vehicle or trip.
Conditions, thresholds, exceptions, and duties
Covered farm vehicles49 CFR § 390.39 exempts a qualifying covered farm vehicle and its operator from listed federal requirements, including commercial-driver licensing and testing requirements, specified Part 391 requirements, Part 395 hours-of-service requirements, and Part 396 requirements, subject to the regulation's conditions and exceptions. 49 CFR 390.39
Agricultural commodity definitions49 CFR § 395.2 defines agricultural commodity and related terms used in the hours-of-service provisions; the definition includes non-processed food, feed, fiber, livestock, and specified horticultural products at risk of perishing or degrading during transport. 49 CFR 395.2
Agricultural HOS exception49 CFR § 395.1 contains exceptions to the Part 395 rules, including agricultural-commodity provisions with conditions concerning the source, destination, period, and movement. 49 CFR 395.1
ELD scope49 CFR § 395.20 states that the ELD subpart applies to ELDs used to record a driver's hours of service under § 395.8, with the applicability and exceptions controlled by the surrounding Part 395 provisions. 49 CFR 395.20
What this source does not answer
- The sources do not decide whether a specific vehicle is a covered farm vehicle or whether a trip fits an agricultural-commodity exception.
- The route, commodity, processing, ownership, driver, State-law, and hazardous-material facts can change the analysis.
- FMCSA guidance access was limited during this source capture; the operative summary here is based on the cited eCFR text.
What to check next
- Which defined term, threshold, date, or exception matches the operation?
- Which state or local source also applies?
- Which records, notices, labels, permits, or agreements are connected to the activity?