Two new bills in Congress aim to help truck drivers with tax credits and lower costs for buying new trucks.

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The first, called the Strengthening Supply Chains through Truck Driver Incentives Act, would give a refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for current drivers and $10,000 for new drivers or those in registered apprenticeship programs. Drivers would need to meet minimum road hours to qualify.

“Passing this bill is a no-brainer: better conditions for the workers that drive us forward, more high-paying union jobs, and lower costs for families across the country,” said U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., who introduced the bill with Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa.

“We are experiencing both a recruitment and a retention problem in the trucking industry,” added Nunn. “This is a simple fix to help get more drivers behind the wheel – improving our supply chain and bringing down costs for every Iowan.”

The tax credit would last for tax years 2025 and 2026. To qualify, current drivers must drive at least 1,900 hours a year. New drivers can qualify with at least 1,420 hours or an average of 40 hours a week after starting.

A second bill, the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2025, would remove the 12% federal excise tax on new truck and trailer purchases. That tax, which dates back to 1917, brings in about $6 billion a year from the trucking industry.

The American Trucking Associations supports both bills. “In many cases, this exorbitant additional expense simply puts new trucks out of reach,” ATA said in a statement, adding that the tax hurts small businesses the most.

Still, not everyone agrees on the root cause of trucking issues. Multiple studies, including one from the National Academies of Science, argue there’s no actual truck driver shortage—just high turnover caused by low pay and poor working conditions. The Department of Labor and several economists have reached similar conclusions.

Despite being introduced in previous years, both bills failed to gain enough support to pass. Lawmakers hope the bipartisan push this time will make a difference.