SHIP IT Act

Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act or the SHIP IT Act

This bill expands programs and special permits for trucks and truck drivers.

Specifically, a state may issue a special permit for certain overweight vehicles based on a Presidential major disaster declaration or a Department of Transportation (DOT) declaration (1) of an emergency (including non-natural or financial), or (2) that the United States supply chain is having issues. Currently, a state may issue a special permit only based on a Presidential major disaster declaration.

DOT must also, subject to the availability of funds, award competitive grants to construct or improve commercial vehicle parking facilities.

Under the bill, the Department of Labor must provide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants for entry level commercial motor vehicle driver training. The bill also establishes a limited tax credit, adjusted annually based on inflation, for eligible commercial driver's license holders.

Further, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must revise certain regulations related to commercial driver's license testing and permits, including to allow a third-party examiner to administer commercial driver's license tests.

DOT must also establish a pilot program allowing states to issue permits for qualifying vehicles with six axles or more operating at greater than 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on a state's Interstate System. (Generally, the federal commercial vehicle weight limit is 80,000 pounds, with some exceptions.)

The bill also exempts the battery weight from the gross vehicle weight for certain commercial motor vehicles powered primarily by electric battery power.

Finally, existing driving time exemptions are expanded for truck drivers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies within a 150-mile radius.

The SHIP IT Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 471, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to promote the growth of the shipping industry in the United States by providing incentives for companies to invest in infrastructure and technology that will improve efficiency and reduce costs.

One of the key provisions of the SHIP IT Act is the establishment of a grant program that will provide funding to companies that are looking to modernize their shipping operations. This funding can be used for a variety of purposes, such as upgrading equipment, implementing new technologies, or improving logistics processes.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to streamline the regulatory process for the shipping industry, making it easier for companies to comply with federal regulations and operate more efficiently. This includes provisions to reduce red tape and simplify reporting requirements for shipping companies. Overall, the SHIP IT Act is aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the US shipping industry and creating more jobs in the sector. By providing incentives for companies to invest in modernization and streamlining regulations, the bill seeks to ensure that the US remains a global leader in the shipping industry.