A group of U.S. lawmakers has reintroduced a bill that would allow qualified truck drivers to receive a tax credit of $7,500 over the next two years.
The initiative, introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Pat Ryan (Democrat of New York) and co-sponsored by Congressmen Zachary Nunn (Republican of Iowa) and Mark Amodei (Republican of Nevada), is titled the “Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act.” Its aim, as emphasized by Ryan, is to address the problem of employee retention in the trucking sector.
“Truck drivers are the backbone of the American economy. They work long and hard, often with limited support, to ensure residents across the country have access to essential goods,” said Ryan. “It’s no wonder that job retention rates in this industry are trending downwards. We need to actively encourage more people to enter the trucking profession and then stay in it, which is why offering these kinds of incentives is so important. Keeping more qualified drivers on the road will also help alleviate the supply chain issues that are resulting in higher prices for American consumers. Passing this bill is a logical step: better working conditions for those who drive our economy, more good-paying union jobs, and lower costs of living for families across the country.”
Detailed provisions of the bill:
Establishment of a new, refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for truck drivers holding a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) who work at least 1,900 hours during the year. This credit would be in effect for the years 2025 and 2026.
Creation of a new, refundable tax credit of up to $10,000 for new truck drivers and individuals participating in registered trucking apprenticeship programs. This credit would also be active for two years.
Allowing new drivers to claim the credit if they did not operate a commercial motor vehicle in the previous year or worked at least 1,420 hours in the current year. Drivers who worked less than 1,420 hours but averaged at least 40 hours per week since starting employment may receive a proportional share of the credit.
The bill has garnered support from organizations such as the American Trucking Associations, the Trucking Association of New York, the New York Farm Bureau Federation, the International Foodservice Distributors Association, and the Teamsters union. If the bill is ultimately passed, it could lead to a significant improvement in working conditions and increase the attractiveness of the truck driving profession, which in turn would benefit the entire economy.
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