The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Passes 17 Bills To Strengthen America’s Supply Chain

OSRA laid the initial groundwork for significant improvements to our ocean shipping system, and now we can build on that progress with OSRA 2.0. For example, OSRA 2.0 establishes that both imports and exports are part of the FMC’s mission in enforcing the Shipping Act. This proposed change reflects the sensibility that the use of American ports by carriers is a privilege – not a right – and that practices that effectively discriminate against U.S. exports are potentially actionable under the law. 

Further, IDFA believes it is unacceptable for our members to ship hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars in product and have little to no visibility on the status or disposition of that cargo. That’s why IDFA fully supports OSRA 2.0’s data streamlining measures, which would require the FMC to develop a federal supply chain data standard. IDFA stands ready to partner with Congress on these provisions within OSRA 2.0 and complementary federal efforts on data sharing to continue the momentum of reforming our nation’s supply chain.

IDFA strongly supports the Gross Vehicle Weight Limits State Opt-in Pilot Program Act to give states the option to allow trucks up to 91,000 lbs. on an added sixth axle to travel on interstate highways within their borders. 

The pilot program would require a participating truck trailer to be fitted with an additional sixth axle, which results in another set of brakes; more tires that can disperse weight more evenly over the road; and maintains federal bridge formula compliance. There are multiple studies, including one by the U.S. Department of Transportation, that show that additional brakes stop a truck more quickly, and the added tires result in less road wear due to better weight disbursement. 

IDFA believes a commonsense approach like a modest truck weight increase – something that has not been done for 41 years – would lead to fewer trucks on the road consuming diesel and emitting greenhouse gases. In a recent dairy economics study, it was estimated that modernized truck weights could save cheese, butter and powder manufacturers more than 105,000 truck trips annually. That is a cost savings of more than $200 million. When you also consider milk, ice cream, and cultured dairy product shipments, the dairy industry’s environmental and cost savings would be even higher due to a GVW limit increase.

IDFA members tell us that they struggle to onboard new drivers because those drivers are unable to find local in-state appointments for the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) exam. IDFA supports the LICENSE Act of 2023, which would allow interstate CDL exam administration. Given the ongoing driver shortage, allowing a state to administer the exam to an out-of-state applicant is reasonable, especially when that driver will be participating in interstate commerce, and the certification they receive is recognized by every state they drive through.