Following a 2007 federal audit, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found multiple motor carrier regulations were incompatible with federal mandates.

Federal officials threatened to hold $28 million in annual aid if Pennsylvania refused to mandate new regulations, many of which are expected to impact farmers across the Alleghenies.

Starting in April, 16 and 17-year-olds will be banned from driving combination farm vehicles over 8.5 tons in Pennsylvania.

Drivers operating combination trucks over 8.5 tons will be required to maintain logs and perform inspections when driving more than 100 miles away from the farm.

Any individual driving a farm vehicle over 8.5 tons will be required to pass a doctor’s exam, similar to commercial driver’s license requirements.

Hundreds of farmers said the new regulations will be overbearing, but state officials said they couldn’t risk losing federal funding.

Dave Fetterolf told WJAC-TV Wednesday that the new regulations will keep him from hiring high school students for summer jobs on his Aaronsburg farm.

“It’s more and more paperwork” said Fetterolf. “It just makes it more tough. It takes a lot more time and money. Money we don’t have.”

Despite the expanded growing and harvesting season, Fetterolf fears older farmers won’t pass a medical exam and lose their livelihood.

State troopers will be responsible for enforcing new motor carrier regulations.