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 allowed drivers transporting hazardous materials in quantities requiring placarding to be exempt from certain age qualifications. As a result, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) rules concerning driver age qualifications will now apply to all drivers for private and for-hire motor carriers operating intrastate, regardless of whether they are transporting hazardous materials. The minimum age for these operations remains at 18 years.

Additionally, the bill eliminates the exemption for retail dealers of fertilizers, petroleum products, and pesticides and their employees when delivering these products to farm customers within a 100-mile radius of their retail business. This means that the age requirements under Code section 321.449 will now apply to these individuals as well. Overall, the bill tightens the regulations surrounding the age qualifications for drivers of CMVs in intrastate commerce, particularly in relation to hazardous materials transportation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.449, 321.450