The U.S. trucking industry lauded the passage in Congress of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, but it’s a little less beautiful to truckers who won’t benefit from the elimination of tax on overtime pay.
That’s something the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) would like to see changed.
“Eliminating taxes on overtime pay for blue collar workers is a well-intentioned move,” said the group’s president, Todd Spencer.
“Unfortunately, truckers won’t benefit from this key provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill due to their exclusion from overtime protections under the outdated Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938. It’s time for Congress to fix a nearly century-old oversight by passing the bipartisan GOT Truckers Act and ensure truckers are eligible for both overtime pay and the tax relief extended to other blue collar workers.”
The FLSA denies truck drivers guaranteed overtime pay when working beyond 40 hours a week. “The FLSA exemption only serves to devalue a truckers’ time,” OOIDA contends.
The American Trucking Associations, on the other hand, will benefit from the “pro-growth” tax reforms within the bill.
“The ATA thanks Republicans in Congress and President Trump for moving this comprehensive tax reform package across the finish line. Today’s vote provides much-needed certainty for the trucking industry — the backbone of our economy — to grow and thrive,” ATA president and CEO Chris Spear said following passage of the bill.
“By passing this bill, Congress averted the largest tax increase in our nation’s history. Neither the economy nor our supply chain would have survived such a travesty. This is our money, not the government’s, and truckers know better than anyone how to reinvest it to promote prosperity. Motor carriers, the overwhelming majority of which are small businesses that operate ten trucks or fewer, will now have the ability to plan for the future, continue to provide good-paying jobs, and upgrade equipment. We commend congressional leaders for recognizing this fact and crafting this tax relief package that supports the 8.5 million Americans who work throughout trucking.”
