This bill amends existing Iowa law regarding driver age qualifications for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers operating solely intrastate to transport hazardous materials. Specifically, it removes the exception that previously allowed drivers under the age of 21 to operate a CMV transporting hazardous materials that require placarding, thereby making the Department of Public Safety's (DPS) age qualifications applicable to these drivers. The minimum age for exempted intrastate operations remains at 18 years. Additionally, the bill strikes references to age requirements related to retail dealers of fertilizers, petroleum products, and pesticides, while clarifying that the rules concerning driver age qualifications do not apply to these retail dealers and their employees when delivering products within a 100-mile radius of their business.

Overall, the bill aims to align state regulations with federal standards by ensuring that all drivers of CMVs transporting hazardous materials, regardless of whether they are operating intrastate, meet the same age qualifications. It maintains the existing provisions that allow for certain exemptions for retail dealers delivering specific products, while reinforcing the importance of safety regulations in the transportation of hazardous materials.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.449, 321.450