The Battle Over the Next Highway Bill: Trucking Industry at a Crossroads

As Congress gears up to reauthorize the next surface transportation bill, the trucking industry finds itself at the center of a heated policy debate.  Nearly 2,800 organizations, drivers, and advocacy groups have weighed in with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), offering drastically different visions for the future of freight.  From the push for bigger trucks to questions about automation, driver training, and safety oversight, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Supply Chain Advocates Push Safety and Workforce Protections

One influential supply chain organization has submitted a list of priorities that focus on driver safety and protecting the workforce.  Their recommendations emphasize:

• Preserving Hours of Service (HOS) protections.  They oppose weakening these federal fatigue-prevention standards or allowing states to opt out.
• Strong guardrails for autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment.  They want legislation requiring stricter inspection processes, ensuring any human overseeing AVs meets the same CDL and HOS requirements, and prohibiting driverless operations for hazardous materials.
• Support for worker transition.  They’re calling on Congress to prepare for the workforce impacts of automation, including retraining opportunities for affected drivers.
• Respecting state authority.  They reject efforts to preempt states from enacting tougher AV laws than federal policy.
• Expanding driver training grants.  With more than 20 CDL training centers that offer low- or no-cost programs, this group is urging Congress to direct federal funding to nonprofit training providers that consistently graduate safe, job-ready drivers.

They’re also pressing FMCSA to address companies dodging oversight by hiding behind contracted fleets, to ensure fair treatment in the return-to-work process under the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, and to oppose lowering the minimum interstate driving age without strict training safeguards.

OOIDA’s “Pro-Trucker” Agenda

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), representing small-business truckers, submitted its own set of priorities—largely focused on protecting drivers from policies they believe would undermine safety or profitability.

OOIDA is fighting against:

• Truck size and weight increases.  While the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and shipper groups support raising the current 80,000-pound limit to 91,000 pounds, OOIDA argues it would only benefit large carriers and shippers, while raising safety risks and costs for independents.
• Lowering the interstate driving age.  OOIDA contends there’s no true driver shortage and that putting 18-year-olds behind the wheel of an interstate rig could be dangerous.  Instead, they suggest limited pilot programs within smaller geographic zones.
• Unrestricted AV deployment.  They strongly oppose the America Drives Act, which would override state AV restrictions and fast-track automation without comprehensive federal safety oversight.
• Electronic identifiers.  OOIDA has dubbed the proposal for universal truck “trackers” a privacy violation and unnecessary burden, especially since data doesn’t prove it would enhance safety.
• Side underride guard mandates.  They warn the equipment is impractical, costly, and not yet proven effective in real-world highway conditions.
• Hair testing for drugs.  Concerns remain over reliability, environmental contamination, and potential racial and gender bias in results.

ATA’s Push for “Modernization”

The ATA, which represents large carriers, is pushing for measures aimed at expanding capacity and embracing technology.  Their top requests include:

• Raising truck weight limits through bills like the Variance Act and the CARS Act.
• Lowering the interstate driving age to expand the labor pool.
• Supporting the America Drives Act to accelerate AV deployment nationwide.
• Permitting hair testing as an alternative to urinalysis for drug screening.

To ATA, these proposals are about addressing supply chain challenges and modernizing the industry.  To OOIDA and other driver advocates, however, they represent serious threats to livelihoods, roadway safety, and personal privacy.

Other Voices in the Debate

Beyond the big three groups, other organizations have weighed in with specific safety-focused requests:

• Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) wants electronic identifiers to streamline inspections.
• Advocates for Auto and Highway Safety are pushing for side underride guards on trailers.
• Individual drivers are demanding practical improvements like safe truck parking and access to restrooms at facilities—issues that directly impact daily life on the road.

What Comes Next

The next surface transportation bill won’t just determine infrastructure funding—it will shape the rules of the road for America’s truckers and freight carriers.  Congress faces the challenge of balancing safety, technology, workforce stability, and industry competitiveness, while fielding conflicting demands from supply chain organizations, independent drivers, large carriers, and safety advocates.

One thing is clear: whether it’s the fight over AV deployment, truck size, or labor protections, the decisions made in this reauthorization will echo across the trucking industry for decades.