DRIVE Act Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-wheelers Act
Impact
If enacted, HB3039 would eliminate any federal requirement for speed limiting devices on heavy vehicles, thereby altering the landscape of motor vehicle safety regulations. The bill aims to grant more freedom to trucking companies and drivers to manage their vehicle operations without being constrained by federal mandates. This change may lead to varying speed regulation practices across states as individual states may have the discretion to determine their own standards and requirements in the absence of federal oversight.
Summary
House Bill 3039, titled the 'Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-wheelers Act' (DRIVE Act), seeks to prohibit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from mandating that certain heavy vehicles equipped for interstate commerce have speed limiting devices installed. This legislation is particularly directed at vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds. Proponents claim that such a regulation infringes upon operator autonomy and could be an unnecessary regulatory burden on the trucking industry, potentially increasing operational costs.
Contention
The bill has sparked debate regarding safety implications on highways and roads. Critics argue that removing the speed limiting device requirements could lead to increased speeds among large trucks, thus heightening the risk of accidents, traffic fatalities, and road safety concerns. They contend that speed limiting devices play a vital role in ensuring road safety, especially involving heavy vehicles that can cause significant damage and injury during high-speed incidents. Supporters of the bill, on the other hand, believe that this measure enables flexibility and efficiency within the transportation sector while also questioning the necessity of such federal regulations.
Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act or the SHIP IT Act This bill expands programs and special permits for trucks and truck drivers. Specifically, a state may issue a special permit for certain overweight vehicles based on a Presidential major disaster declaration or a Department of Transportation (DOT) declaration (1) of an emergency (including non-natural or financial), or (2) that the United States supply chain is having issues. Currently, a state may issue a special permit only based on a Presidential major disaster declaration. DOT must also, subject to the availability of funds, award competitive grants to construct or improve commercial vehicle parking facilities. Under the bill, the Department of Labor must provide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants for entry level commercial motor vehicle driver training. The bill also establishes a limited tax credit, adjusted annually based on inflation, for eligible commercial driver's license holders. Further, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must revise certain regulations related to commercial driver's license testing and permits, including to allow a third-party examiner to administer commercial driver's license tests. DOT must also establish a pilot program allowing states to issue permits for qualifying vehicles with six axles or more operating at greater than 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on a state's Interstate System. (Generally, the federal commercial vehicle weight limit is 80,000 pounds, with some exceptions.) The bill also exempts the battery weight from the gross vehicle weight for certain commercial motor vehicles powered primarily by electric battery power. Finally, existing driving time exemptions are expanded for truck drivers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies within a 150-mile radius.