Invoice seeks to create tax credit score as much as $7500 for CDL-A truck drivers who drive 1900 hours per 12 months

This week, lawmakers reintroduced a invoice that may create a refundable revenue tax credit score for truck drivers in hopes of bringing and preserving extra employees within the trucking business.

The bipartisan Strengthening Provide Chains By means of Truck Driver Incentives Act was reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08) on Thursday, March 30.

Lawmakers say that the the invoice would supply a “short-term, quick, and simple incentive to draw and retain new drivers.”

The invoice was initially launched in April 2022.

The invoice would create a a two-year refundable tax credit score of as much as $7500 for truck drivers holding a sound CDL-A who drive at the very least 1900 hours per 12 months.

The laws would additionally create a brand new refundable tax credit score of as much as $10,000 for brand spanking new truck drivers or people enrolled in a registered trucking apprenticeship. If handed, the invoice would enable new truck drivers to be eligible for the credit score if they didn’t drive a business truck within the earlier 12 months or drive for at the very least 1420 hours within the present 12 months. his implies that new drivers might obtain a proportion of the tax credit score in the event that they drive lower than 1420 hours within the 12 months, however drove at the very least a mean of 40 hours every week upon beginning to drive.

“Throughout the pandemic, truckers didn’t have any distant choices — but they went to work each single day to maintain our economic system transferring and our communities robust. Our nation must step up and acknowledge their arduous work — and we have to encourage extra People to enter this business,” stated Spanberger. “All through Virginia, I hear about the necessity to handle our power truck driver scarcity. Our bipartisan invoice would assist deliver extra drivers into the fold, maintain them on the freeway, and reward them for his or her loyalty. I wish to thank Congressman Gallagher for his continued partnership on this laws, and I stay up for seeing extra younger People hop within the driver’s seat.”

“The truck driving business is dealing with an enormous workforce scarcity that’s disrupting almost each side of our provide chains,” stated Gallagher. “We have to encourage extra younger women and men to affix this profession path, and this bipartisan invoice is a typical sense technique to recruit and retain extra drivers to maintain our cabinets stocked and our economic system transferring.”

Teams endorsing the invoice embrace the American Trucking Associations, American Loggers Council, Virginia Trucking Affiliation, Virginia Farm Bureau, Virginia Loggers Affiliation, Virginia Agribusiness Council, Nationwide Grocers Affiliation, Worldwide Foodservice Distributors Affiliation, American Constructing Supplies Alliance, Forest Sources Affiliation, Hardwood Federation, Wooden Equipment Producers of America, Third Means, and Nationwide Pork Producers Council.

“Lowering the nationwide scarcity of certified truck drivers would require funding in growing the subsequent era of trucking expertise. Whilst driver pay continues to rise at a historic clip, the Strengthening Provide Chains By means of Truck Driver Incentives Act will present much more incentive for these contemplating a profession in trucking however by offering substantial tax credit to scale back their federal tax liabilities. The invoice additionally would supply aid for People at the moment driving vans, serving to the business retain these important employees. This bipartisan laws will make a significant distinction within the lives of recent truckers, serving to them transfer into one of many few professions in right now’s economic system that may present a middle-class way of life with out the time and expense of a four-year school diploma. ATA thanks Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Mike Gallagher for his or her management on this crucial situation and for being robust advocates for America’s truck drivers,” stated Chris Spear, President & CEO, American Trucking Associations.