Washington Update: Key Areas that Impact Women In Trucking

In recent years, the commercial trucking industry has found itself navigating not just highways but a shifting landscape of national policy changes. From environmental regulations and independent contractor classification to recent tariffs that reshape global trade flows and sweeping executive orders issued by the Trump administration, these political decisions have far-reaching effects on how goods move across the country.

“While the Women In Trucking Association is not a lobbying association, we find it critically important to stay on top of issues that impact our members,” says Jennifer Hedrick, WIT President and CEO. “While we do have a voice in Washington, we don’t use it in the same way that lobbying organizations traditionally do. Because of our diverse membership, WIT carefully selects the issues we get involved in to ensure more universal impact on all our members. And we’re joining coalitions with other industry associations on issues that are important to our broader membership. Of course, we’re routinely educating lawmakers and key stakeholders through conversation, ride-alongs, and other initiatives.”

According to Hedrick, currently there are four broad areas on which WIT is focused: safety in trucking, cargo security, workforce development, and the lack of available truck parking. Recently Hedrick recently covered these issues when she hosted a webinar along with Tom Jensen, who is a government affairs advisor to the association. Members can view the webinar on-demand.

What’s Currently Going On In Washington?

“It’s been a very unusual year so far,” Jensen laments as he talks about the transition of power between two vastly differing administrations and new Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress.

He notes that a major initiative in Washington that will impact trucking is the fact the current federal surface transportation authorization, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2026. In anticipation and leading up to this, the reauthorization process has begun to ensure the continuation of funding for highways, transit, and related infrastructure programs. This reauthorization process includes several steps, including committee hearings and stakeholder engagement, drafting and mark-up of the bill, voting and implementation by relevant federal agencies and distribution back to the states.

“We’re already seeing a lot of increased discussions this year by key stakeholders on various issues in preparation of the bill consideration next year,” says Jensen. “This legislation can considerably impact issues that WIT is most focused on.”

Safety: Steering Trucks Down the Right Road

Safety is a critical issue in commercial trucking because it directly impacts the well-being of professional drivers, other road users, and the integrity of goods and materials being transported. With large, heavy trucks traveling long distances—often under tight deadlines—the potential for accidents can be significantly higher if proper safety measures aren't followed. Unsafe practices can lead to severe injuries, fatalities, costly damages, and legal liabilities. Moreover, maintaining a strong safety culture helps companies with trucking operations protect their reputation, comply with regulatory standards, reduce insurance costs, and retain skilled drivers. In an industry that forms the backbone of supply chains, prioritizing safety isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a fundamental business necessity.

Each year in the United States alone, large commercial trucks are involved in approximately 500,000 accidents. Of these, around 4,000 to 5,000 are fatal crashes, and more than 100,000 involve injuries, according to data reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While large commercial trucks are involved in a relatively small percentage of total roadway crashes, the consequences tend to be more severe due to the size and weight of the vehicles.

According to Hedrick, some of the biggest issues affecting safety in commercial trucking include:

• Driver Fatigue: Long hours behind the wheel, often with insufficient rest, can lead to drowsiness and slower reaction times, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Distracted Driving: Use of mobile devices, eating, or other distractions while driving can lead to serious accidents.
• Inadequate Training: Drivers who aren't properly trained may lack the skills to handle large vehicles safely, especially in adverse weather or high-traffic conditions.
• Vehicle Maintenance Issues: Poorly maintained trucks with faulty brakes, worn tires, or other mechanical problems can be dangerous on the road.
• Regulatory Non-compliance: Failure to follow federal safety regulations (such as Hours of Service rules) undermines safety and increases legal risks.

Speeding and aggressive driving also are major factors that impact safety, notes Jensen. “Pressure to meet tight delivery schedules can lead truck drivers to speed or engage in risky maneuvers,” he says. “Speed limitations has ping-ponged between Democrat and Republican leadership, but clearly there are issues from a safety perspective on how fast you can operate a commercial motor vehicle – and they differ in different parts of the country and the type of roadways they’re on. Speed requirements on an interstate in west Texas are going to require different considerations than a roadway near a metro area on the East Coast.”

Highway Heists: Cargo Theft Concerns

Cargo theft and security is another area that has the potential to roll into the highway bill, according to Jensen. Stolen cargo leads to billions of dollars in losses annually, disrupting supply chains, damaging company reputations, and increasing insurance costs. High-value goods like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and food are frequent targets, often stolen from unsecured trailers, rest stops, or through insider threats and cyberattacks.

Beyond financial losses, cargo theft also can pose safety risks. Because of this, companies with trucking operations invest in advanced security measures, such as GPS tracking, surveillance systems, secure parking, driver training, and tighter supply chain coordination. As theft tactics evolve, especially with organized crime and digital threats, maintaining robust cargo security is essential to protecting assets, customers, and the overall integrity of the freight industry.

Smart Workforce Strategies to Keep Trucking Moving

The trucking industry faces several major workforce challenges, including the driver shortage, an aging workforce, high turnover rates and employee burnout, lifestyle and working conditions, training and licensing barriers, pay and compensation. Addressing such challenges requires systemic changes in recruitment, training, compensation, and working conditions to make trucking a more sustainable and appealing career path.

Recent legislation that has an impact on this area includes stricter worker classification rules as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act and proposed tax incentives for truck drivers that would offer refundable tax credits for qualified drivers.

Jensen also mentions the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP), managed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), as another workforce-related regulatory component that provides motor carriers with access to commercial drivers' safety performance histories, including five years of crash data and three years of roadside inspection data. This program was established under a federal mandate to enhance road safety by enabling employers to make informed hiring decisions.

In June 2023, the Motor Carrier Safety Screening Modernization Act (H.R. 3356) was introduced to expand access to the FMCSA's PSP by allowing companies to access safety records on an ongoing basis, rather than solely during pre-employment screening. The goal is to enhance safety and address supply chain challenges by providing motor carriers with additional information to improve training practices and reduce roadway crashes. Under current regulations, participation in the PSP is voluntary, and motor carriers must obtain a driver's written consent before accessing their records. The proposed legislation seeks to modify these provisions to allow for more continuous access, thereby fostering a stronger culture of safety within the trucking industry.

More recently, the Trump administration presented an executive order that mandates all commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency sufficient to understand road signs, communicate with officials, and complete necessary documentation. This policy, which can have a notable impact on recruiting and retention of truck drivers, aims to enhance road safety and standardize communication protocols across the trucking industry.

Hedrick notes that WIT has joined a coalition formed by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) comprising hundreds of industry associations to advocate for policies that expand access to industry-recognized credentials and alternative career pathways. A primary legislative focus is the bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which seeks to expand 529 education savings plans to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs.

“WIT supports expanding these savings plans to include such programs as truck driving schools and CDL license programs that are relevant to our members,” says Hedrick.

Nowhere To Park: The Trucking Industry’s Hidden Roadblock

One of the most persistent and overlooked challenges in the trucking industry is the severe lack of safe, available parking for professional truck drivers. As freight demand grows and Hours of Service (HOS) regulations strictly limit driving time, the shortage of legal parking spaces creates mounting pressure on long-haul truck drivers who are required to rest but struggle to find suitable locations.

This problem has serious consequences. Drivers often spend up to an hour or more searching for parking, which reduces their available driving time, impacts productivity, and cuts into their pay. In some cases, drivers are forced to park on highway shoulders, ramps, or unsafe areas—posing risks to their safety, increasing the likelihood of cargo theft, and creating hazards for other motorists. The stress and uncertainty caused by parking shortages can also contribute to driver fatigue and turnover, worsening the industry’s labor issues.

While the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act (S. 1034) was introduced in March 2023 and proposed a competitive grant program to expand and enhance commercial motor vehicle parking facilities across the United States, this bill died in December 2024, according to Jensen.

“While we have no bill or bill number as of yet, a similar concept of a competitive grant program to construct new parking areas or improve existing facilities along federal-aid highways or in proximity to freight corridors is something many would support,” says Jensen. He predicts that the current state of play is that this is a concept that could be included in next year’s Highway Bill.

Solving this issue requires public and private sector collaboration to invest in more rest areas, integrate real-time parking information technology, and support policies that prioritize driver safety and efficiency. Until then, the parking crisis will remain a major roadblock to productivity, safety, and driver satisfaction in the trucking industry.

WIT: Education is Key to Addressing the Issues

While reiterating that WIT is not a lobbying organization, Hedrick emphasizes the important of staying on top of issues most important to members.

“A big part of what we do as an association is not only stay on top of the issues, but learn from our members and share the common knowledge and perspectives gathered through the Women In Trucking community. We share these experiences through educational sessions at the annual Accelerate! Conference, our webinar series, and our various channels such as WIT eNews and Redefining the Road magazine.”

Hedrick reiterates that if any member has a specific issue that is important to the success of their organization, they are encouraged to reach out to the association at 888-464-9482.

Related Articles:

• Women In Trucking Association Applauds Bipartisan Bill to Allow Truck Drivers Access to Restroom Facilities
• Sean Duffy Confirmed as U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary
• No Truck Parking: A National Safety Concern

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