A bill introduced in the House of Representatives aims to improve the country’s supply chain by incentivizing the hiring and retention of truck drivers and increasing shipping capacity.
On Jan. 24, Congressmen Dusty Johnson of South Dakota and Jim Costa of California made the presentation Safer Interstates and Improved Performance for the Interstate Trucking Actor SHIP IT, which aims to incentivize hiring and retention of truck drivers and increase US shipping capacity.
According to Land Line, the SHIP IT Act, or HR471, would allow states to issue special permits for overweight vehicles and cargo in emergencies. It would also allow truck drivers to apply for grants under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The bill would increase the attractiveness of working as a truck driver through targeted and time-limited tax credits. It also aims to streamline the CDL process to make it easier for states and third parties to conduct CDL testing. In addition, the bill would aim to expand access to truck parking and rest areas for commercial drivers.
According to the bill, current truck drivers who clock up at least 1,900 hours in a year could be eligible for a $7,500 tax credit based on their income. New truck drivers could be eligible for a $10,000 tax credit.
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“Americans experienced a series of cargo disruptions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Johnson said in a release. “Last year we looked at maritime reform and it is clear that updates are needed for other parts of the supply chain. The SHIP IT Act will close loopholes, keep costs down for consumers and make it easier for shippers to ship products within the US.”
Costa said the bill is necessary to ensure the country’s supply chain runs smoothly. “We need to hire, train and retain truck drivers to keep our supply chain running while updating best practices to improve trucking and align with our modern economy,” he said.
The Shippers Coalition, International Dairy Foods Association, National Milk Producers, Consumer Brands Association and heavy-duty chassis maker Hendrickson all expressed support for the bill.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association appreciates some aspects of the bill but believes some tweaks are needed.
