Trucking Alliance’s Regulatory Focus
The Trucking Alliance, a smaller lobbying group in the industry that includes some major trucking companies, has consistently prioritized safety to influence public policy. Following a tumultuous year in 2025 where trucking, safety, and politics intersected in unforeseen ways, the Alliance is outlining its agenda for not just 2026, but for the years ahead, acknowledging that changes in regulations may take time to fully implement.
Insights From Industry Leaders
FreightWaves presents highlights from an interview conducted by editor at large John Kingston with key leaders from the Trucking Alliance: Steve Williams (co-founder and president), Lane Kidd (managing director), Greer Woodruff (executive VP of safety, sustainability, and maintenance at J.B. Hunt), and Brett Sant (senior VP at Knight Swift). The complete interview can be accessed through the provided link.
Key Topics Covered
The first segment of the interview focused on issues directly impacting drivers, the second on safety measures for carriers, and the final part addresses larger regulatory changes, recognizing the interconnected nature of these regulatory shifts within the industry.
Insurance Requirements
Discussions around insurance have noted that the minimum financial responsibility for trucking carriers was established at $750,000 when the industry became deregulated in 1980—and it remains unchanged today. The Trucking Alliance views this as a significant concern. Brett Sant highlighted that with many carriers operating small fleets, there isn’t thorough underwriting to evaluate risk adequately.
Proposed Changes to Insurance Minimums
The Trucking Alliance recommends increasing the minimum insurance requirement to $2.9 million, adjusting for inflation since the 1980 figure. Though this adjustment has occurred in some states like New Jersey, it’s uncertain whether Congress would take similar action on a federal level. The Alliance is exploring ways for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to raise minimums without needing Congressional involvement.
English Language Proficiency Standards
In the interview, the topic of English language proficiency arose, particularly regarding its influence on cabotage issues. The Trucking Alliance suggests enforcing stringent English language standards for commercial drivers in the U.S. to ensure effective communication during inspections, emergencies, and operational activities, which are crucial for highway safety.
ELD Enforcement Issues
One unexpected development from the Trump administration has been the removal of several electronic logging devices (ELDs) from the market. The Trucking Alliance supported the ELD mandate but noted that the FMCSA allowed manufacturers to self-certify their ELDs, leading to significant failures. Moving forward, the Alliance suggests that FMCSA should require ELDs to re-certify through independent third-party labs to ensure their reliability.
