What the Highway Bill Means to Trucking

Trucking relies on the U.S. Highway system, so infrastructure is a serious business concern. Even the most reliable and safety-conscious drivers cannot anticipate the hazards on crumbling roads and bridges. But for too long, Congress had held back on a long-term solution to fund infrastructure maintenance and repair. Finally, that has changed with the passage and signing of a multi-year Highway Bill — the first long-term transportation spending package in 10 years.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) praised lawmakers for passing the 5-year bill. “While we all, of course, wish there was more money to be had, this bill takes important steps to re-focus the program on important national projects and takes critical steps to improve trucking safety and efficiency,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said.

In addition to funding important infrastructure repair, the bill addresses several concerns of trucking companies.

CSA adjustments
Ever since the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) system went into effect in 2010, trucking companies have argued that it doesn’t work in practice they way it was intended. The bill requires the FMCSA and GAO to review the program, assess where and why it falls short of its intent and develop a plan to fix it. The CSA rankings were removed from public view immediately after the bill was signed.

Detention time
Ideally, everyone involved in the transportation of goods works together. But almost any driver can offer a story of waiting to be loaded or unloaded for hours on end. That affects their paycheck and ability to do the job in a timely manner. The FMCSA will study the detention issue and report on its findings. (In another move, though unrelated to the Highway Bill, the FMCSA published a new rule at the end of November that addresses coercion on the part of carriers, shippers, receivers and brokers to persuade drivers to violate federal regulations, such as HOS rules.)

Driver shortage
Military veterans will have an easier path to qualifying for a CDL if they have comparable experience from their service, and allow medical certification from VA doctors as well as those on the National Registry of Medical Examiners. Military veterans and members of the Reserve who are under 21 will be allowed to truck across state lines, and the FMCSA will look at the data on those drivers in considering whether to extend the lower age limit to other drivers.

Future regulations
When the FMCSA creates new rules it must include an analysis of how that rule will impact carriers of different sizes and applications.

The bill includes many other trucking-related provisions, and overall the reaction in the industry has been positive. ATA Chairman Pat Thomas said, “While not perfect, this bill is a tremendous step forward for trucking in many respects.”