Covered Farm Vehicle
About
A covered farm vehicle is defined as a vehicle or combination of vehicles registered in this state which must:
- have a covered farm vehicle designation
- be 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
- be used to transport agricultural commodities, livestock, machinery, or supplies to or from a farm or ranch
- not be used for for-hire motor carrier operations, exclusive of operation by a tenant pursuant to a crop share agreement to transport the landlord’s crop
- not be used to transport hazardous materials.
Benefits of a CFV-1
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:
- Hours of Service
- Medical certification
- Drug testing
- Inspection, repair, and maintenance requirements (State requirements still apply)
Location of Operation
A single or combination covered farm vehicle weighing over 26,000 pounds may only be operated in New York State and within 150 air miles of your farm or ranch.
A covered farm vehicle weighing 26,000 pounds or less may be operated anywhere within New York State and in any other state as long as the state honors the Covered Farm Vehicle designation.
Please note: If your vehicle displays a “FARM” plate, it may only be operated within 25 miles of the farm.
Text of the Law
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 Subparagraph (vi) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 501 of the vehicle and traffic law is REPEALED.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 Subdivision 7 of section 501-a of the vehicle and traffic law is REPEALED, subdivision 8 is renumbered subdivision 7, and a new subdivision 8 is added to read as follows: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.
Get Farm Endorsements (F and G) on a New York State License
You can take the knowledge tests for F and G endorsements at any DMV office. You can study for the knowledge test using the CDL manual.
CDL Holders
The Farm Class A Vehicle (F) and Farm Class B Vehicle (G) endorsements are only available on Non-commercial class licenses. If you have a CDL and you want to add Farm endorsements, you must downgrade to a Non-commercial class license. A road test is required if you have a Class B license but want to have a Farm Class A endorsement. You will have to downgrade to Non-CDL C Class.
Get a Farm Class A Vehicle (F) Endorsement
To get an F endorsement, you need to take the correct knowledge test at a DMV office, get a permit, pay the correct skills test fee and pass the skills test in a tractor-trailer or truck-trailer combination.
Get a Farm Class B Vehicle (G) Endorsement
To get a G endorsement, you need to take the correct knowledge test at a DMV, get a permit, pay the correct skills test fee and pass the skills test in a single unit truck.