What the midterms could mean for trucking

With Democrats expected to take at least one chamber of Congress, there could be major policy implications for trucking. Candidates for Congress will make their closing arguments to constituents this week as Nov. 3 approaches. The results may completely change how transportation policy is decided on Capitol Hill next year. Nonpartisan election watchers say it’s very likely that Democrats will take the House and that the Senate could come under Democratic control as well. Who wins re-election or a Senate seat will affect key trucking issues, including lawsuit abuse, oversight of commercial driving schools, English-language proficiency for drivers and major highway legislation. If legislation funding infrastructure, cracking down on chameleon carriers and curbing lawsuit abuse does not pass during the lame-duck session of Congress, the new Congress will have to take up these issues under completely different leadership on key transportation and appropriations committees. Lawmakers likely to stayMany key transportation committee members are expected to keep their seats, according to election watchers at Cook Political Report and elsewhere. Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, has a race rated Solid R by Cook Political Report, the rating system’s strongest indication of a likely Republican victory. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) serves on the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure under the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and is running for re-election, with a race rated Likely R. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), who sits on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, has the same rating. Image Rouzer in 2022. (Chris Seward/Associated Press) Other Republicans frequently involved…

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