One Big Beautiful Bill Act Passes in Congress

WASHINGTON — The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a longstanding initiative of President Donald Trump, successfully passed through the House on Thursday and is now awaiting the president’s signature.

Trump is anticipated to sign the bill at 5 p.m. local time on Friday.

The final voting results were 218-214, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition. This extensive bill, consisting of over 800 pages, addresses various issues related to the trucking industry.

Support from the American Trucking Associations

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) praised the House for approving the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and forwarding it to the president. The bill aims to benefit the trucking sector by offering long-term tax certainty and more adaptable resources for workforce development, which are crucial for maintaining the nation’s supply chains and economic flow, according to ATA.

“The American Trucking Associations expresses appreciation to Congressional Republicans and President Trump for advancing this comprehensive tax reform initiative,” stated ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Today’s vote ensures much-needed stability for the trucking sector, the backbone of our economy, enabling it to expand and flourish. With passage of this bill, Congress has averted the most significant tax increase in U.S. history, safeguarding both the economy and supply chains. This funding belongs to the truckers, who are best positioned to reinvest it for prosperity. Since most motor carriers are small businesses operating ten trucks or fewer, they can now plan for the future, generate good-paying jobs, and upgrade their equipment. We commend congressional leadership for crafting this tax relief proposal that supports the 8.5 million individuals employed in trucking. We look forward to celebrating President Trump’s fulfillment of yet another promise for our industry when he signs this into law.”

Criticism from Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association

However, some provisions within the bill have raised concerns. Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), remarked, “While eliminating taxes on overtime pay for blue-collar workers is a commendable initiative, truckers will not benefit from this critical aspect of the One Big Beautiful Bill due to their exclusion from overtime protections under the outdated Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. It is imperative for Congress to correct this longstanding oversight by passing the bipartisan GOT Truckers Act, which would ensure that truckers are eligible for both overtime pay and the tax relief provided to other blue-collar workers.”

Current Overtime Pay Limitations for Truck Drivers

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not guarantee overtime pay for truck drivers. Unlike most other blue-collar workers, this exemption means that truckers do not receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, regardless of circumstances like traffic or loading delays.

OOIDA points out that since many truckers are compensated solely for the miles driven, they often do not receive fair remuneration for all the hours worked. The FLSA exemption undermines the value of a truck driver’s time.

The Safety Concerns Linked to Overtime Rules

OOIDA noted that truckers frequently leave the industry for better opportunities, resulting in less experienced and statistically less safe drivers filling their roles. “Our roads become riskier when truckers lack guaranteed overtime,” OOIDA stated. “Excessive delays at loading docks heighten safety risks, with studies showing that even an additional 15 minutes at a loading facility can increase accident rates by 6.2%, contributing to over 6,500 more crashes annually.”

A Proposed Solution for Truckers

According to OOIDA, the bipartisan GOT Truckers Act (H.R. 1962/S. 893) aims to eliminate this restriction preventing truckers from receiving overtime pay. “This bill simply aligns the rights of truckers with those of almost every other blue-collar worker in America while enhancing road safety,” OOIDA concluded.