The passage of a substantial tax reform bill will provide tax stability for truckers but fails to offer help with issues surrounding their overtime pay, industry advocates say. 

The US House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill on Thursday, July 3rd. The bill is primarily focused on extending and modifying the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Some of these tax changes include no tax on overtime pay, and extends tax cuts on estates and individual income tax. 

As a result of the passage of the tax reform bill, some trucking industry advocates are pleased with the progress, while others say it’s not enough. 

“Eliminating taxes on overtime pay for blue collar workers is a well-intentioned move. 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from this key provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill due to their exclusion from overtime protections under the outdated Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938,”  said Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in a statement. 

“The American Trucking Associations 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,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear in a press release.

“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,” Spear continued. 

OOIDA continues to push for the passing of the GOT Truckers Act, which would guarantee truckers overtime pay, and include them in the soon-to-be elimination of taxes on overtime pay. 

“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,”

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,” Spencer said.