The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) denied an exemption from hours-of-service rules for drivers transporting live animals.The request for exemption applied to all livestock, insect and aquatic animal haulers and their drivers.The exemption would have allowed drivers, after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, to drive through the 16th consecutive hour after coming on duty and to drive a total of 15 hours during that 16-hour period.The agency said the request would not lead to safer conditions for drivers.“If the agency were to grant the exemption, drivers transporting agricultural commodities would be allowed six or more ...