Farm vehicles can cross state lines without commercial license under new agreement

Kansas has signed agreements with Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri to permit farmers to operate farm vehicles across state lines without requiring commercial driver's licenses.

Under the agreements, any driver operating a farm vehicle can enter or exit Kansas from those states with only a valid non-commercial driver's license if:

* The vehicle is operated by farmers or their families or employees aged 18 or older.

* Used only to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies to or from the farmer's farm.

* Is not used in the operations of a common or contract carrier.

* Is properly registered and used within 150 miles of the farm.

"Such partnerships allow our agriculture industry to utilize federal exemptions, thus easing the regulatory burden on our farmers and ranchers," said Mike Hoeme, Director of the Kansas Corporation Commission's Transportation Division.

Kansas is working with Colorado, Iowa, Texas and Arkansas to arrive at similar agreements.

This story was originally published January 11, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Farm vehicles can cross state lines without commercial license under new agreement."