Appropriation bill includes several trucking provisions
In July, the House Appropriations Committee advanced a bill that includes several provisions of interest to those in the trucking industry. Perhaps most notable, the bill in its current form would prevent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from moving forward with its rulemaking to mandate speed limiters on commercial motor vehicles.
On July 10, the committee approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill by a vote of 31-26. The bill, which proposes spending limits and restrictions on the Department of Transportation, now advances to the House floor. As of press time, a vote was expected sometime this fall.
“With both targeted investments and targeted cuts, the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill carefully allocates resources to the most critical missions at DOT and HUD while meeting our responsibility to rein in spending with a reduction of $7 billion below Fiscal Year 2024,” said THUD Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack, R-Ark. “The bill prioritizes the safety of all modes of transportation from our railways to roads and airways. We ensure a responsible safety net with housing support for our most vulnerable citizens.”
Trucking provisions
The 210-page bill includes several provisions of interest to truckers:
- Prohibition against FMCSA using funds to move forward with a rulemaking to mandate speed-limiting devices for commercial motor vehicles
- Allocation of $200 million for truck parking projects
- Prohibition of enforcing the electronic logging device mandate on agricultural haulers
- Prohibition on FMCSA’s attempts to alter rest break preemption waivers
- Prohibition of driver-facing cameras being used in an under-21 pilot program
- Prohibition of congestion pricing in the New York City metro area
Concerning speed limiters, the appropriations bill provides another opportunity for lawmakers to fight FMCSA’s efforts to require the devices on trucks. A standalone bill, the DRIVE Act, also would stop the rulemaking. However, inclusion in a larger bill may have a better chance at reaching the finish line. LL