America’s supply chain is undergoing a technological transformation, and trucking is leading the charge.
In testimony on Capitol Hill, American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear delivered a clear message to lawmakers: the road to a safer, stronger, and more competitive freight network runs through smart, targeted policy decisions.
Spear emphasized that the trucking industry is already investing billions in advanced technologies to modernize operations. To fully unlock these benefits, however, Congress must be a partner, not an obstacle.
Spear advised lawmakers to take six steps to improve roadway safety, cut costs for consumers and businesses, and deliver economic and environmental benefits for the American people:
Repeal the Federal Excise Tax
During the hearing, Senator Todd Young (R-IN) asked Spear to identify some of the roadblocks to deploying advanced vehicles. Spear singled out the 12 percent federal excise tax that adds tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of new trucks and equipment and often puts the latest safety and efficiency technologies out of reach.
A bill introduced by Senator Young, the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act, would eliminate this century-old tax and speed up fleet turnover, putting newer, cleaner, and safer trucks on the road more quickly.
Preserve National Vehicle Safety Standards
As an interstate industry, trucking depends on uniform regulations across state lines. Spear urged Congress to reaffirm the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s role as the primary authority over motor vehicle safety standards.
A fragmented patchwork of state or court-imposed rules creates uncertainty and discourages investment in new technologies. A clear federal leadership role gives companies the confidence to innovate at scale.
Establish a Federal Framework for AV Trucks
Autonomous technologies hold real promise for improving safety and productivity, but only if they are deployed under a consistent national strategy. Spear called on Congress to establish a federal framework that enables innovation while preventing conflicting state regulations that could slow adoption. Done right, this will help ensure the United States remains a global trailblazer in next-generation transportation technologies. If Congress fumbles its responsibility, however, it risks ceding its role to competitors like China.
Spear distinguished between a prescriptive-based approach to regulation, which mandates specific technologies to achieve a desired outcome, and a performance-based approach, which sets technology-neutral goals that empowers entrepreneurs to find innovative solutions to reach them.
Modernize Federal Systems to Combat Cargo Theft and Fraud
Criminal networks are exploiting outdated systems, weak identity controls, and fragmented reporting structures to steal freight, impersonate legitimate carriers, and undermine trust in the supply chain.
Spear urged Congress to help close those gaps by supporting agency modernization, stronger registration integrity, better data sharing, and advanced fraud detection tools. Senator Young’s SAFER Transport Act would provide important tools to help DOT detect and deter fraud, while the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would enhance and coordinate the response to organized supply chain crime.
Prioritize Proven Technologies
Not all technologies are ready for widespread deployment. Spear cautioned policymakers to differentiate between solutions that have demonstrated effectiveness in real-world trucking operations and those that still require further testing and validation.
Encouraging innovation means supporting what works today while allowing emerging technologies the time they need to mature, not imposing mandates for unproven technology that could hinder progress.
Protect Critical Spectrum for Transportation Systems
Finally, Spear expressed support for upgrading positioning, navigation, and timing, but not at the expense of existing technologies that keep freight moving.
Proposals like NextNav would repurpose wireless spectrum in ways that risk harmful interference to the millions of incumbent devices and systems already operating there.
The Bottom Line
The trucking industry is not waiting to innovate; it is already investing in the technologies that will define the future of freight.
But federal policy will determine how quickly—and effectively—those innovations can be deployed nationwide.
By advancing these six recommendations, Congress can send a powerful signal that the United States is ready to lead, strengthen supply chains, improve safety, reduce costs, and ensure American competitiveness for years to come.