Texas Trucking Leaders Take Industry Priorities to Capitol Hill
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION—March 2, 2026
TXTA Contact: Julie Hagen
julie@texastrucking.com
AUSTIN, TX — Texas trucking leaders are taking their message straight to Capitol Hill this week, bringing their voices from across the Lone Star State to the nation’s capital. On March 3, a delegation of 25 members and staff from the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) and the Southwest Movers Association (SMA) will meet with Texas lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to discuss transportation and supply chain issues. The meetings are part of the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Call on Washington program, which connects industry leaders directly with Members of Congress, key staff, and federal regulators to address legislation and regulatory challenges shaping the future of trucking.
Trucking is not an abstract policy. It is groceries on store shelves, medicine in hospitals, construction materials on job sites, and paychecks for thousands of families. More than 90 percent of trucking companies in America operate 10 trucks or fewer. In Texas, 1 in 14 jobs are in the trucking industry.
“In today’s climate, protecting the trucking industry begins with ensuring qualified drivers are behind the wheel,” says TXTA President and CEO John D. Esparza. “No law permits anyone to bypass the qualifications needed to get behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle, and TXTA, alongside other state trucking associations, has been working over the past year to identify common sense solutions to improve safety. This kind of ‘trucking resurgence’ is critical to removing unqualified drivers, addressing fraud, and better enforcing compliance while addressing rampant abuse in our industry.”
The TXTA delegation in Washington will focus their conversations with lawmakers on three key issues that demand federal attention.
1) Lawsuit Abuse: When a motor carrier acts wrongfully and someone is harmed, accountability matters. Those injured should be fairly compensated. But today, certain legal tactics and trends have transformed truck accident litigation into a profit center rather than a fair system for determining fault. The impact is felt far beyond the courtroom. The annual tort burden per Texas household now stands at $4,594. As insurance premiums skyrocket, small carriers struggle to survive, and rising transportation costs ripple through the economy, increasing the price of everyday goods for Texas families.
2) Compliance in Commercial Driver’s License Programs: Commercial driver’s licenses are the foundation for ensuring that the 3.5 million drivers operating commercial motor vehicles are qualified to safely handle 80,000 pound trucks. Recent federal decertification of substandard training schools and audits revealing compliance gaps have exposed dangerous vulnerabilities in the current system. Without integrated databases, consistent testing standards, and adequate federal resources, fraud can flourish and unqualified drivers can slip through the cracks. Texas trucking leaders support stronger oversight, standardized data systems, and reforms that close loopholes while maintaining the integrity of driver qualifications.
3) Cargo Theft and Fraud: As the industry rapidly digitizes, sophisticated scams are targeting trucking companies and shippers. Unscrupulous actors impersonate legitimate businesses, leaving carriers unpaid and cargo stolen or held hostage. Current oversight tools are not enough to deter organized fraud schemes. These crimes threaten supply chain stability, drive up costs, and create safety risks when unauthorized operators enter the system without proper vetting. “Chameleon carriers” is another key issue relating to fraud in the industry. These high-risk operators shut down after serious safety violations, then reopen under new names or registration numbers to evade penalties and oversight. Their actions undermine responsible carriers that follow the rules and create unnecessary risks for the motoring public.
Throughout the week, Texas trucking leaders will share real world stories with lawmakers about how federal policy decisions play out on highways, in small businesses, and in local communities. Their message is straightforward: a strong, safe, and fair trucking industry is essential to a strong Texas economy. As Congress debates transportation, safety, and regulatory reforms, Texas trucking industry professionals are making sure their perspective is not just heard but understood.
For more information on the comprehensive reform proposal developed by a coalition of state trucking associations, please visit: www.truckingresurgence.com