On July 22, the Senate Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety Subcommittee of the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee convened to assess current issues facing the U.S. trucking and motorcoach industries. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) presided as Chairman and four witnesses were in attendance:

• Chris Spear, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Trucking Associations
• Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
• Fred Ferguson, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Bus Association
• Sean O’Brien, General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Senators and witnesses discussed safety, workforce, evolving technology, security threats, and infrastructure with an eye toward updating policies as part of the next surface transportation reauthorization. Five major themes surfaced:

1. Safety Continues to Be a Top Priority

Both senators and witnesses reiterated that safety remains paramount for truck, bus, and passenger travel. There was support for improving and investing in advanced safety technologies such as automatic emergency braking and telematics systems raised by Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM). Attention was brought to the critical need for post-crash drug and substance testing and ensuring driver compliance with safety regulations. But there was disagreement on whether hair-testing was appropriate. The bus industry called for modernizing and differentiating the safety measurement system for buses since they are different from trucks. The need for alleviating regulatory burdens, such as the one from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requiring manual placing of safety triangles during emergency breaks was emphasized by chairman Young.

Eyebrows were raised on the use of Delivery Service Partners (DSP) program, claimed to allow e-commerce giant Amazon skirt safety oversight by hiring independent contractors. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) called for plugging this “accountability blackhole”.

2. Workforce and Labor: Wages, Retention, and Training

Workforce challenges—including retention and turnover—were debated at length. Democratic senators, joined by Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, emphasized the direct connection between fair wages, quality benefits, and improved driver retention—addressing a sector where, as Sen. Markey noted, turnover in long-haul trucking can reach “90%”. Union leaders pointed to lower turnover rates (about 10-15%) in unionized fleets. There was general support for stronger enforcement against predatory driver training schemes and support for legitimate Commercial Driving License (CDL) programs, and English-language requirements for truckers citing both safety and legitimacy issues.

3. Automation and Jobs: Technology’s Double Edge

Technological progress, particularly in automation and advanced driver-assist systems, drew both optimism and concern. Industry representatives see a role for automation in enhancing efficiency advocating for technology (automation levels 1 to 4) are a complement to humans in unleashing economic growth and throughput of globally lagging American ports. Witnesses supported creating a clear federal framework for autonomous vehicle regulation. But labor leaders and some senators raised questions about job displacement and advocated keeping human operators alongside any autonomous vehicles on the road.

4. Freight Theft and Security as Growing Threats

Cargo theft and fraud were described as urgent and rising problems, with losses estimated at $35 billion annually. Industry and lawmakers called for greater federal coordination—involving Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, local law enforcement, and the FMCSA—to address sophisticated theft tactics and transnational criminal activity. Better reporting channels, tougher penalties, and stronger FMCSA enforcement authority were encouraged.

5. Infrastructure Needs: Parking and Facilities

There was consensus regarding ongoing infrastructure needs, most notably the chronic shortage of safe truck parking. Witnesses stressed that a lack of parking, especially for women drivers, creates unsafe conditions and affects driver well-being. Enforcement of rules allowing coach buses public access to federally funded transit and bus facilities was also raised.

Other Issues

Additional points of discussion included the effects of tariffs and excise taxes on equipment costs and opportunities for drivers (Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-OH), minimum insurance requirements, training and providing pathway for 18-21-year-olds to enter the trucking industry (chairman Young), and support for a user fee on EVs to ensure Highway Trust Fund solvency (Sen. Deb Fischer, R-NE). The importance of modernizing outdated rules and maintaining a level economic playing field was a recurring message.

Consensus emerged around safety, infrastructure updates, and adapting regulation to new and continued risks (theft and automation) posed by technology and security threats. Lawmakers and industry leaders expect continuing debates over labor standards, autonomous vehicles, and market competitiveness as Congress considers the next reauthorization of federal surface transportation law.