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Trucking executives highlight driver shortage, equipment taxes, truck parking and cargo theft as top barriers
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Summary
The trucking industry told the subcommittee labor shortages, a century‑old federal excise tax, lack of safe parking, cargo theft and hair-testing rules for drug screening are key challenges affecting safety and supply-chain costs.
Representatives of the American Trucking Associations and a large family-owned carrier told the Highways and Transit Subcommittee that the trucking industry faces multiple systemic challenges that directly affect safety, supply‑chain reliability and costs.
Driver workforce: ATA representatives described a sustained need for qualified drivers. Witnesses and members discussed pilot programs that allow younger drivers limited interstate operation and urged permanent, expanded pathways to recruit new drivers and broaden the pool, including more women and younger entrants. The ATA witness said the industry needs sustained training programs and better parking and safety conditions to retain workers.
Federal excise tax (FET): Cargo Transporters’ witness said the 12% federal excise tax on heavy trucks (a levy dating to World War I) adds thousands of dollars to equipment purchases and discourages procurement of newer, cleaner, safer trucks. The witness and several members urged Congress to consider repeal or reform of the FET as a way to reduce fleet costs and modernize equipment.
Truck parking and safety: Members and ATA witnesses said inadequate safe truck parking forces drivers to park on ramps and shoulders, creating safety risks. Several members said they support dedicated truck‑parking grant programs and regulatory fixes that would let states and localities convert right‑of‑way or rest areas into secure parking without undue federal obstacles.
Cargo theft and security: ATA described rising cargo theft and the need for a centralized reporting ‘‘clearinghouse’’ and better law‑enforcement coordination. Committee members asked the witness about federal responses and whether recent executive actions addressed cargo‑theft enforcement.
Drug testing and hair testing: Several members raised hair testing as a drug‑screening method with broader detection windows than urine tests. A motor‑carrier witness said his company has used hair testing since 2017 and sees higher detection rates compared with urine tests; he urged that regulators create a consistent pathway for hair testing results to be included in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse if it can be implemented reliably.
The panel did not vote on policy changes; committee members said they would continue exploring legislative options to support driver recruitment, reconsider FET and expand truck parking and cargo‑theft prevention.
