Special to The Hays Daily News

Topeka -- The state of Kansas has signed an agreement with the state of Nebraska to permit farmers to drive trucks across state lines without requiring commercial driver's licenses. Both Kansas and Nebraska exempt operators of farm vehicles from the commercial driver's license requirement, but without this agreement, the exemption did not extend outside the border of the farmer's home state.

"This is good news for farmers that live near the Kansas/Nebraska border, who will no longer have to worry about crossing the state line," said Susan Duffy, executive director of the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Under the terms of the agreement, any driver from Kansas or Nebraska who possesses a valid non-commercial driver's license may operate a farm vehicle within either state if the farm vehicle is:

* a properly operated farm vehicle under the laws of either state;

* controlled and operated by a farmer, including operation by his or her employees or family members, so long as the operator holds a valid driver's license in either state and is 18 years of age or older;

* used exclusively to transport either agricultural products, farm machinery, farm supplies, or both to or from the farmer's farm;

* not used in the operations of a common or contract carrier;

* not a combination of truck-tractor and semi-trailer;

* not used to transport hazardous materials;

* properly registered as a farm vehicle or farm truck; and

* only used within 150 air miles of the farmer's farm.

Kansas does not have reciprocity with any other neighboring states at this time. Farmers must have a valid CDL when traveling in all other states.