Freight Groups Draw Policy Road Map for Congress
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WASHINGTON — American Trucking Associations and other key freight stakeholders are pointing toward the need for approval for more safety and efficiency programs as part of Congress’ next comprehensive policy road map for the nation’s transportation system.
Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, these groups have argued for a set of priorities for federal policymakers and the White House to consider as part of a bipartisan transportation agenda over the next two years.
Atop such priorities for ATA is ensuring enhancements to truck parking locations, as well as near-term reductions specific to emissions and accommodations linked to autonomous technologies along supply chains.
During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in July, ATA President Chris Spear pressed for adoption of additional funding for many industry-specific projects, such as truck parking. Doing so, he explained, would improve workforce safety as well as the recruitment and retention of commercial drivers. While reminding senators the industry has a substantial stake in road safety improvements, he also emphasized the significance linked to the adoption of technologies and applications designed to facilitate the flow of freight.
ATA President Chris Spear in July addresses a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing. (Camille Toussaint/American Trucking Associations)
ATA has repeatedly pressed lawmakers to fund big-ticket parking expansion projects. The issue has consistently dominated the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual list of industry priorities. On Capitol Hill this year, a fiscal 2026 House transportation funding bill proposes $200 million for truck parking operations.
“This is not only a public safety issue and problem for drivers on the road today, it also represents an enormous challenge to recruiting a new generation of drivers (including women and other traditionally underrepresented demographics) to enter the industry,” according to background information ATA provided senators. “Sustained and robust federal investment in the expansion of truck parking capacity is key to addressing this long-standing problem.”
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Legislation such as the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), is among measures expected to be included in multiyear highway policy bills next year. ATA has endorsed Bost’s bill.
In addition, ATA pressed for greater protections from cargo theft. Spear has praised recent measures specific to addressing this long-standing industry concern. Lawmakers are seeking to enhance law enforcement operations designed to combat organized theft groups as well as transnational criminal organizations.
Other stakeholders, such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials unveiled policy recommendations for Congress’ new surface transportation reauthorization. These included guaranteeing funding certainty for state agencies, improvements to project completion and enhancing roadway safety.
“Surface transportation reauthorization should allow more flexibility for states in their efforts to improve safety — including with the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), by increasing eligible activities and federal share while eliminating set-asides and reducing burdensome program rules and requirements,” according to its policy recommendation report, “AASHTO Policy Recommendations to Congress and the Administration on Surface Transportation Reauthorization.”
The for the country’s intricate network of roadways, is also calling on Congress to approve a new highway policy measure.
ASCE stressed that lingering inadequate conditions as well as consistent safety concerns typically result in highway congestion and supply chain inefficiencies. Its recent scorecard stated that “roads connect communities and play a vital role in the nation’s economy. Although Americans’ travel patterns have shifted in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) have rebounded.” ASCE explained that 39% of major roads in the U.S. are in poor or mediocre condition, which was an improvement from the 43% recorded in 2020.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials unveiled policy recommendations to make improvements to project-completion and enhance roadway safety.(vitpho/Getty Images)
“Driving on deteriorated and congested roads still costs the average driver over $1,400 per year in vehicle operating costs and lost time. While once again declining, the number of people dying on America’s roads remains high, totaling 40,990 in 2023,” the report stated.
This year, the transportation committees in the House and Senate have outlined governmentwide priorities meant to kick off consideration of a multiyear surface transportation bill. This new comprehensive highway bill is expected to revisit Biden-era climate change initiatives, promote traditional roadway infrastructure projects and push to expand certain emerging technologies. Lawmakers have a year to update federal highway policy provisions.
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Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is focusing on commercial transportation issues. During a recent hearing, Cruz noted that “America’s trucking and motorcoach industries are more than just transportation. They are the lifeblood of our economy, connecting supply chains, creating millions of jobs, and ensuring the efficient and timely delivery of goods.”
Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he plans to direct his colleagues to focus on big-picture highway projects while maintaining a focus on traditional connectivity networks. As he put it, “After recent years of expanding and creating more programs, spending money we don’t have and losing money to project approval inefficiencies, we can and must focus on our most fundamental infrastructure needs.”
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), the transportation panel’s top Democrat, pledged to pursue bipartisanship during the highway bill’s consideration. At a recent ATA Women In Motion advocacy forum on Capitol Hill, he assured trucking advocates the committee would “get a big bipartisan vote out of this committee.”
“We’re leading this issue. The Senate is a little behind us,” he said. “We just can’t wait. And so we’re moving forward.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has expressed support for highway-centric legislation that would primarily streamline permitting processes for big-ticket infrastructure projects.
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“From our department’s perspective we’re going to streamline the paperwork bureaucracy in which you all have to deal with as you do these projects,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told AASHTO members earlier this year. “I want more time spent building and less time complying with all the paperwork requirements that come from the Department of Transportation.”
Guaranteeing long-term solvency for the Highway Trust Fund also is likely to also be central to the legislative negotiations during the upcoming surface transportation debate. The Eisenhower-era fund relies on insufficient revenue from the federal 18.4 cents-per-gallon tax on gas and 24.4 cents-per-gallon tax on diesel. Those rates were approved in 1993.
Federal highway programs are operating under a fall 2026 deadline. The most recent authorization of the nation’s highway system was included in 2021’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known as the bipartisan infrastructure law.
