Dreier Seeks to Strengthen Technology Resources for Trucking Industry

April 23, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA) has signed onto legislation that will incentivize the use of enhanced safety technology in the trucking industry and contacted two critical federal agencies asking for increased study of GPS navigation technology for trucks and better collection and dissemination of safety information to drivers.  Dreier is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 2024, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act of 2009. 

“Safety on our roads is a top priority for all levels of government,” Dreier said.  “The recent accidents in La Cañada Flintridge have brought to the forefront the gaps in the dissemination of information on road conditions and safe routes, especially for the trucking industry.  We must take steps to prevent these tragic circumstances from causing any more fatalities in Southern California or anywhere else in the country.  The GPS navigation technology is out there, and I believe truckers need to know they can access truck-specific navigation information in order to make the safest decisions on which routes they take.  I believe economic incentives are critical to this effort.  At the same time, the federal government needs to continue its study of GPS navigation technology in order to provide more evidence of its importance and effectiveness, allowing it to qualify for tax incentives in the future.”

H.R. 2024 addresses a number of critical concerns.  First, it identifies widely recognized technologies that are proven to increase safety on our roads.  These include brake stroke monitoring, collision warning, lane departure warning, and vehicle stability systems.  Second, it provides tax incentives to companies who employ these technologies.  This is especially critical because 95 percent of all trucking companies are small businesses, owning 20 trucks or less.  In these challenging economic times, there is no better way to move companies toward safety than economic incentives.  Finally, the bill allows for a long-term view of emerging safety systems technology by allowing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to add qualified safety systems for this tax incentive, once they are proven to significantly enhance the safety and security of drivers and vehicles. 

In his letters to the FMCSA and NHTSA, Dreier urges the agencies to expedite the study of the effectiveness of navigation devices for trucks and specifically asks for their leadership in enhancing road safety through the improved collection of accurate and timely data, as well as the dissemination of that data to drivers. 

A summary of H.R. 2024 can be viewed here.  Congressman Dreier’s letters can be viewed here and here.