OOIDA Supports Extension of FAST Act

An additional year is fine for short term, but future focus on trucking still needed

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association commends members of Congress for passing legislation to extend the highway surface transportation legislation for one year.

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act from 2015 was scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, 2020. The Association joined more than 80 other organizations last month encouraging Congress maintain funding and stability as the U.S. continues to struggle with the fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, OOIDA stresses that while a one-year extension will ensure America’s economy continues to bounce back, there is still a great deal of work to be done for the trucking industry.

“We are nevertheless concerned about the continued push for changes that harm small-business truckers,” said Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President of OOIDA, who spent 22 years as an owner-operator. “Efforts to increase insurance minimums will be vigorously challenged and we are determined to see the shortage of safe truck parking addressed as part of a final, long-term reauthorization bill.”

OOIDA will continue to work with industry stakeholders and lawmakers to promote efforts that support small-business truckers.

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