28-hour law

28-hour law: The 28-hour law is the federal rule that animals may not be confined in a vehicle for more than 28 consecutive hours without being unloaded for feed, water and at least five hours of rest. It can run to 36 hours when the owner asks in writing. Source

The rule in plain words

The law is 49 U.S.C. 80502. Carriers may not keep animals confined for more than 28 consecutive hours without unloading them for feed, water and rest. Source The owner or custodian can ask in writing, separately from the bill of lading, for the limit to run to 36 hours. Source Unloaded animals must rest in pens with feed and water for at least five consecutive hours, and loading and unloading time doesn't count toward the limit. Source USDA enforces it. Source

In practice EXAMPLE

A cattle hauler finishes loading feeder calves in Oklahoma at 4:00 on Tuesday for a run to a feedlot 1,250 miles away. At an average of 50 mph moving, plus fuel and breaks, the run takes about 28 hours, right at the limit with no room for a delay. The driver arranges a team driver to keep the trailer moving and calls ahead to a sale barn on the route with pens, in case weather slows the trip. If they stop there, the calves unload, rest at least five hours with feed and water, and the clock starts again when they are reloaded.

Why it matters on every livestock load

The animals' clock runs alongside the driver's hours of service, and both have to work. Fuel stops, inspections and breaks all count against the 28 hours while the animals stay on board. Planning the route, the rest points and the driver setup before loading is the job; our 28-hour law timer works out the unload-by time. State rules for livestock hauling are covered in livestock hauling rules by state.

Records that back you up

Write down when loading finished, keep any written request for 36 hours apart from the bill of lading, and note the times animals were unloaded and reloaded at any rest stop. Those records answer an inspector's or a customer's question in minutes. If a breakdown or a road closure puts the load at risk of passing the limit, call the shipper and look for the nearest facility with pens, feed and water before the clock runs out, not after.