Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Commander, Gerry Krolikowski, addresses a news conference at the Governor’s Hearing room in the Capitol
Members of the Nebraska livestock industry have reached an agreement with the Nebraska State Patrol designed to keep livestock healthy when a livestock truck is taken off the road.
Nebraska Cattlemen President Mike Drinnin of Clarks says the industry wanted to reach out to the patrol to address the situation before any livestock have been harmed.
“It’s not fair to assume that I know all facets of the law and it’s the same for a state trooper or someone who pulls it over; understands how to move the livestock, understands what needs to be done,” Drinnin tells a Capitol news conference. “That’s why we wanted to get together with the state patrol, so we could come up with this checklist. It’s extremely important.”
The patrol has drafted a checklist for troopers to follow when a livestock truck is taken out of service in order to protect the health of the livestock.
Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Commander, Gerry Krolikowski, says the patrol drafted the guidelines to address most traffic violations.
“We’re talking about those situations where a driver or a vehicle is placed out of service,” Krolikowski says. “Now, out of service is not an arbitrary thing. It’s not individual troopers deciding what criteria to go by.”
Krolikowski says that criteria is set by national groups and is uniform across the country.
“When those drivers or vehicles reach that criteria, that’s what we’re talking about. Those situations like that,” Krolikowski says. “Not a simple moving violation.”
Both the patrol and the livestock industry say they wanted to address the situation before any livestock are harmed when a hauler is sidelined. NSP has provided a list of the most common violations found during inspections to ensure trucks and trailers are in safe, working order. The guidelines also suggest how best to unload and move livestock when a hauler is taken out of service.
The partnership includes numerous organizations including the Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, University of Nebraska, Nebraska Farm Bureau, We Support Agriculture, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Pork Producers, Nebraska Poultry Industries, and Midwest Dairy.