Effective July 11, 2016 Federal regulations and New York State law are amended to change the term "farm vehicle” to “covered farm vehicle”, to define covered farm vehicles, and to include a new “Covered Farm Vehicle designation” requirement.
Under the new law, a covered farm vehicle is defined as a vehicle or combination of vehicles registered in this state which must:
Please note: If your vehicle displays a “FARM” plate, it may only be operated within 25 miles of the farm.
If you currently have an F or G endorsement, or are applying for one, effective July 11, 2016, you must have a Designation as a New York State Covered Farm Vehicle form (CFV-1). The CFV-1 serves as proof that you have the Covered Farm Vehicle designation and are exempt from needing a CDL to operate a covered farm vehicle. You must keep a copy of form CFV-1 in each covered farm vehicle that you operate, as it indicates to law enforcement personnel that you are exempt from CDL requirements and the above-mentioned federal regulations. This vehicle may only be operated in New York State and within 150 air miles of your ranch or farm.
Effective July 11, 2016, you must have a Designation as a New York State Covered Farm Vehicle form (CFV-1). The CFV-1 serves as proof that you have the Covered Farm Vehicle designation and are exempt from needing a CDL to operate a covered farm vehicle. You must keep a copy of form CFV-1 in each covered farm vehicle that you operate, as it indicates to law enforcement personnel that you are exempt from CDL requirements and the above-mentioned federal regulations. This vehicle may be operated anywhere in United States, as long as the state honors the covered farm vehicle designation.
The Covered Farm Vehicle designation means that you are exempt from needing a commercial driver license (CDL) to operate a covered farm vehicle. It also means that you are exempt from federal regulations related to:
You may download copies of the CFV-1 from the DMV website at Designation as a New York State Covered Farm Vehicle (pdf) [1] (CFV-1)..
On July 11, 2016 the “Z” endorsement will be removed from your license record.
If you no longer transport farm hazardous materials and wish to obtain a new license document without the “Z” endorsement, you may apply for a replacement license after July 11, 2016. You may replace your license or permit [2] online or at a DMV office.
If you wish to continue to transport farm hazardous materials on or after July 11, 2016, you must first obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and undergo a criminal history check, as required by section 501 (6) of the NY State Vehicle and Traffic Law and section 383 of the Federal regulations.
Once your CDL is issued, you may apply for the Hazardous Materials Endorsement:
HazMat Unit
NYS DMV
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228
Contact the DMV at (518) 486-9786 between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm. Designated staff are assigned to assist you.
Section 1. Subparagraph (vi) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 501 of the vehicle and traffic law is REPEALED.
§ 2. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 501-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 36 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(i) a personal use vehicle or a covered farm vehicle or a combination of such vehicles;
§ 3. Subdivision 7 of section 501-a of the vehicle and traffic law is REPEALED, subdivision 8 is renumbered subdivision 7, and a new subdivision 8 is added to read as follows:
8. Covered farm vehicle. (a) A vehicle or combination of vehicles registered in this state, which (i) displays a covered farm vehicle designation issued by the commissioner, (ii) is operated by the owner or operator of a farm or ranch, or an employee or family member of an owner or operator of a farm or ranch, (iii) is used to transport agricultural commodities, livestock, machinery or supplies to or from a farm or ranch, (iv) is not used in for-hire motor carrier operations, exclusive of operation by a tenant pursuant to a crop share farm lease agreement to transport the landlord's portion of the crops under that agreement; and (v) is not used for the transportation of hazardous materials.
(b) A covered farm vehicle with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating, whichever is greater, of more than twenty-six thousand pounds may only be operated within one hundred fifty air miles of the farm or ranch.
(c) The commissioner shall, by regulation, designate an endorsement or endorsements for the operation of covered farm vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of more than twenty-six thousand pounds. Such endorsement or endorsements shall be required to operate such a covered farm vehicle or combination of covered farm vehicles. The identification and scope of such endorsement or endorsements shall, at a minimum, include a distinction between the operation of a covered farm vehicle having a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of more than twenty-six thousand pounds and the operation of a combination of covered farm vehicles having a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of more than twenty-six thousand pounds.
(d) For the purposes of this subdivision, the gross vehicle weight of a vehicle shall mean the actual weight of the vehicle and the load.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.