Over the past several years, it has been made clear that our nation’s supply chain regularly hits its breaking point. Once a disruption happens, it simply breaks.
Consider towards the beginning of the pandemic, when shelves were empty, or the fear of a Christmas cancellation because of port backlogs, and the recent threat of a railroad strike that would have halted our delivery of goods.
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Our supply chain is made up of many moving pieces, from trucking to railways and ports. And they must work together and efficiently to ensure that consumers have access to critical goods in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
One way to help them do this is by passing common-sense legislation to alleviate the constant threat of a supply chain disruption. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Jim Costa (D-CA) recently introduced the bipartisan Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act, known as the SHIP IT Act. This bill is a holistic approach toward securing our supply chain that prioritizes the improvement of conditions for our nation’s truckers.
The SHIP IT Act would increase shipping capacity through a pilot program by allowing modest increases in gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits on the Interstate System, decreasing burdens on current and future truck drivers, providing incentives to recruit and retain drivers, and allowing additional flexibilities during times of emergency.
This legislation is the critical next step to bring much-needed reform to a system that has been long neglected.
The U.S. is currently facing a truck driver shortage of nearly 80,000 drivers. Moreover, the median age of a truck driver is between 51 and 52 years old, which means this problem will only grow worse over the next several years as retirements start to roll in.
Shippers across the country are struggling to find drivers to replace this aging workforce. Reducing barriers in the trucking industry could help solidify a pipeline of future drivers. For example, a grant program included in the SHIP IT Act would assist with the cost of driving school and provide a tax credit for new and existing drivers, thereby helping companies increase recruitment.
We must also find ways to improve drivers’ quality of life.
The SHIP IT Act would put truck drivers first by taking necessary actions to make it safer for them to do their jobs. Right now, for every 11 semi-trucks on the road, there is only one parking space, forcing drivers to park in places that are unsafe for them and the traveling public. By authorizing additional funding for truck parking, this bill would help ensure that drivers have a safe place to rest during their off-duty time.
The SHIP IT Act would also bring much-needed reform to gross vehicle weight limit laws.
Despite major advancements in vehicle safety, these laws have not been updated in the past 40 years. Trucks no longer look like they did in 1982, when the current GVW limits were set. And current limits do not consider the progress made in vehicle manufacturing and safety technology included in the vehicle.
Authorizing a modest pilot program that would increase GVW limits to up to 91,000 pounds on six axles on the Interstate System would improve safety by moving trucks from state and local roads — where they drive by schools, churches, homes, and playgrounds — to the federal interstates. The pilot program would also require trucks to have a sixth axle, which comes with an additional set of brakes. Studies have found that the additional set of brakes will allow the truck to stop shorter than current configurations, improving safety on our roads.
The passage of the bipartisan SHIP IT Act is critical to improving our shipping methods and should be a priority for lawmakers. The bill aims to benefit all Americans — truck drivers, shippers, and consumers alike. This is an action Congress can take now to shore up our supply chain before the next disaster strikes.
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Lawmakers must not stand idly by and wait for another crisis to occur.
Alexis Oberg is the deputy executive director of the Shippers Coalition.
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