Committee hears bill to create commercial truck safety council, double enforcement fee

The House Transportation Committee on Jan. 30 heard staff and industry testimony on House Bill 2410, which would establish a Washington Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council inside the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to develop training, research and grant programs aimed at reducing commercial-vehicle crashes.

Committee staff Jennifer Harris summarized the bill’s major provisions: it would require drivers of commercial motor vehicles to hold and carry appropriate commercial driver’s licenses and endorsements, set minimum approved course components (classroom, range and on-road instruction, backing maneuvers) for DOL-certified courses, and authorize the council to contract, accept grants and award targeted training grants. The bill would increase the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from $16 to $32; after DOL administrative deductions, net proceeds would be deposited in a new non-appropriated commercial truck safety and education account to be overseen by the commission.

“Under the bill, the Washington State Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council . . . is established in the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to deliver programs and projects that improve the safety of the commercial trucking industry,” Jennifer Harris said during her staff summary. A fiscal estimate in the bill packet shows the Department of Licensing expects the fee increase to yield about $2.6 million per year (about $5.2 million per biennium); DOL also reported a one-time programming cost of about $33,000.

An unnamed prime sponsor told the committee the proposal is intended to improve driver education and reduce the incidence and consequence of truck crashes. “If we have better educated truck drivers, we’re all safer,” the prime sponsor said, while acknowledging a substitute will be filed to refine agency roles and implementation details.

Industry witnesses spoke in favor of the bill’s emphasis on training and collaboration. Abigail Potter, director of safety and compliance for the Washington Trucking Associations, said the council could increase awareness of federal rules and help align industry-led training with practical on-road needs. Jason McFadden, owner of Lucky Pacific Trucking, and Joshua Sternberg of Gallagher Insurance said better-targeted training could lower crash rates and related insurance costs.

Several details remain to be worked out before committee action: the Traffic Safety Commission and other agencies flagged the need to clarify the commission’s operational responsibilities, the council’s exact staffing or contracting path, limits on administrative spending (the bill caps administrative use of funds at 5 percent), and the timeline for appointments and reporting. The bill requires the council to meet quarterly, with an initial meeting convened by the commission no later than January 2027, and to report annually to the legislature beginning in 2027.

The committee took no vote at the hearing. Staff and witnesses agreed to provide follow-up data at members’ requests; the sponsor indicated a substitute version will be circulated to address technical and jurisdictional questions.