Transportation (Freight) in United States

in committee · United States · House Dec 1, 2025

HR 5570: Rail Passenger Fairness Act

HR 5570, the Rail Passenger Fairness Act, allows Amtrak to directly sue host railroads in federal court to enforce its statutory right to priority over freight trains on shared rail networks. This bill amends existing law (49 U.S.C. § 24308(c)) to give Amtrak, not just the Attorney General, the legal right to seek court orders ensuring passenger trains receive priority as required by the 1973 Amtrak Improvement Act. The key provision removes the sole reliance on the Attorney General for enforcement - a mechanism used only once since Amtrak's founding - and enables Amtrak to pursue legal action directly. This change aims to address chronic delays caused by host railroads prioritizing freight, which contributed to over 3.2 million minutes of passenger train delays in 2019. The bill focuses solely on altering the enforcement mechanism, not on prescribing new service standards or funding.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight Rail

in committee · United States · House Mar 31, 2025

HR 2514: Trucker Bathroom Access Act

HR 2514, the Trucker Bathroom Access Act, requires businesses like warehouses, distribution centers, and shipping facilities (but not small restaurants under 800 sq ft) to allow commercial truck drivers access to their restrooms when delivering goods or waiting to load cargo. It also mandates that port terminals provide sufficient restrooms for drayage truck operators (drivers of large trucks moving cargo at ports) in safe, accessible areas, including parking spots for vehicle access. The bill does not require businesses to make physical restroom changes and exempts locations where access would create health, safety, or security risks. It defines "covered drivers" as those operating commercial vehicles regulated by the Department of Transportation and "covered restrooms" as those safely accessible to drivers. This law directly affects truck drivers and the businesses they interact with during deliveries or port operations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight Ports Rail

in committee · United States · House Feb 13, 2026

HR 7526: Safe Skies Act of 2026

The Safe Skies Act of 2026 requires the Transportation Secretary to extend existing flightcrew rest and duty rules - currently applied to passenger flights - to all-cargo air carrier operations within 30 days of the bill's enactment. This directly affects flight crews and cargo airlines, ensuring they follow the same rest and duty time limits as those serving passengers. The bill modifies a 2012 FAA rule (77 Fed. Reg. 330) to apply universally, bypassing standard rulemaking procedures (5 U.S.C. § 553) for this specific adjustment. It makes no new policy changes beyond applying current passenger flight rules to cargo operations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 3775: Stop Underrides Act 2.0

The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 requires new safety standards for side underride guards on commercial trucks and trailers to prevent passenger vehicles from sliding under them during collisions. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Transportation finalize regulations requiring these guards within 18 months, with full compliance required within two years. The regulations must meet specific performance standards to prevent intrusion into passenger vehicle occupant space during side collisions at speeds up to 40 mph. This law directly affects commercial truck manufacturers, trucking companies, and all road users, particularly vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians who are at higher risk in underride crashes. The bill also establishes a public website for underride crash resources and requires studies to better understand and prevent these crashes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 18, 2025

S 2108: VARIANCE Act

S 2108 (VARIANCE Act) allows commercial trucks transporting specific dry bulk goods to exceed standard axle weight limits by up to 10% (110% of the maximum). It directly affects trucking companies hauling homogeneous, unpackaged dry bulk cargo (like grain or sand) in trailers designed for that purpose. The bill amends federal law to permit this weight variance for dry bulk goods only, while still requiring compliance with the overall gross vehicle weight limit. This change applies solely to vehicles carrying defined dry bulk goods in purpose-built trailers, not to other cargo or vehicles.

Topics ✗ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight Roads & Highways

in committee · United States · House Sep 12, 2025

HR 5337: Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act of 2024

HR 5337 establishes a new standard for businesses (called "covered entities") that contract with motor carriers to ship goods. It requires these businesses to verify 45 days before shipment that a carrier is properly registered, has required insurance, and is confirmed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as meeting safety standards. Individual shippers (like personal movers) are exempt from these verification requirements. The standard expires once the FMCSA issues new safety fitness regulations within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill also creates a public FMCSA confirmation system showing whether carriers meet safety requirements.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight Roads & Highways

in committee · United States · House Jul 24, 2025

HR 4661: AMERICA DRIVES Act

The AMERICA DRIVES Act (HR 4661) allows commercial trucks equipped with Level 4 or Level 5 automated driving systems (ADS) to operate interstate without a human driver onboard or a remote operator. It directly affects commercial trucking companies and autonomous vehicle manufacturers by preempting state laws requiring human drivers and mandating the Department of Transportation (DOT) to update regulations by 2027. Key provisions include revising rules around hours of service, drug testing, and driver licensing to apply to driverless vehicles, while defining ADS based on industry standards (SAE J3016). The bill ensures regulatory parity for ADS-equipped trucks and excludes automated technologies from width calculations under safety standards.

Topics ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Autonomous Vehicles Freight Roads & Highways

in committee · United States · House Nov 21, 2025

HR 6233: Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act

This bill requires commercial motor vehicle drivers to demonstrate English proficiency to pass knowledge tests or receive certification. Starting two years after enactment, drivers must understand English traffic signs, communicate with safety officers (like border patrol), and exchange directions in English while operating vehicles. It bans administering these tests in any language other than English and mandates the Transportation Secretary to update related regulations within two years. The law directly affects commercial drivers seeking certification or renewing licenses under federal rules.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Freight

in committee · United States · House Jun 5, 2025

HR 3730: FARE Act

The FARE Act establishes a 10-year advisory committee to study barriers to rail electrification and recommend solutions. The committee, with balanced representation from passenger and freight railroads, utilities, manufacturers, and state/federal agencies, will research technical, financial, and regulatory challenges. It must submit biennial reports to Congress starting two years after the bill's enactment, detailing its findings and recommendations. The committee will terminate 10 years after the bill becomes law, with no direct impact on rail operations or funding.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Freight Rail

in committee · United States · House Feb 26, 2025

HR 1487: Agricultural and Forestry Hauling Efficiency Act

HR 1487, the Agricultural and Forestry Hauling Efficiency Act, allows Virginia to issue special permits for agricultural and forestry vehicles weighing up to 90,000 pounds on interstate highways. This directly affects farmers and timber haulers in Virginia transporting unprocessed goods like raw crops (for food, feed, or fiber) or unfinished forest products (such as logs, wood chips, or biomass). The bill amends federal law to create this exception to standard weight limits, enabling larger loads for specific agricultural and forestry operations. It does not change weight rules for other states or other types of cargo.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight Roads & Highways

All transportation bills