The surface transportation bill touching every corner of trucking recently cleared its first major hurdle — and the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) continues to monitor Congressional activity related to this bill closely.
The BUILD America 250 Act passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 62-2 on May 22, a near-unanimous vote that drew simultaneous praise from OOIDA and the American Trucking Associations — two organizations that sometimes do not land on the same side of policies. Better known as the Surface Transportation Reauthorization legislation and often referred to as the “Highway Bill” in the trucking industry, this five-year authorization replaces existing surface transportation legislation that expires Sept. 30, 2026.
The House legislation included three important priorities to the WIT community for which the association has advocated:
The regulatory implications stretch well beyond these three provisions. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, must finalize broker and freight forwarder qualification rules within two years — a reform the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) has pushed for more than a decade.
In addition, lease agreements between carriers and independent owner-operators will require new disclosure forms covering weekly compensation, average mileage, driver schedules, deduction breakdowns, and data on how many drivers fulfill versus exit their leases. The Highway Bill specifically targets "predatory leases," a term the legislation applies broadly to situations where the carrier controls the driver's work, compensation, and debts while the driver accrues no equity.
Additional provisions commission a DOT study on cabotage violations, revisit ELD regulations, create a committee to review cargo theft, and extend the safe driver apprenticeship program. The Senate Environment and Public Works committee has not yet released its version of the bill, but industry observers expect that text in the coming months.
In the meantime, given this Highway Bill touches nearly every segment of trucking operations, what should WIT members and key stakeholders in the trucking industry be doing to prepare if this legislation is ultimately approved by Congress?
If you’re a for-hire carrier or company with a private fleet that could be impacted by the truck parking shortage, you should continue to incorporate best practices and parking solutions into your operations to avoid consequences in safety, productivity, driver retention and operating costs.
If you’re a shipper or company with DCs or terminals within your network, assess your facility's restroom access for inbound drivers before this becomes law. The bathroom mandate applies whether you're a manufacturer or a DC, and existing facilities don't necessarily need to be modified — access just cannot be denied.
Lastly, while expanded access to driver safety records can help carriers or private fleets make more informed hiring decisions and strengthen highway safety, it is equally important that companies with professional truck drivers give them access to accurate information, fair evaluation processes, and opportunities to demonstrate improvement throughout their careers. Take steps to continue to be an “employer of choice” in a market where quality truck drivers are in high demand.
In short, get ahead of all the implications of this new Highway Bill before the rulemaking clock starts ticking.
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