With 2025 almost in the rearview, the Ӱɴý is looking back at the accomplishments of a consequential year and studying our roadmap to plot the route ahead as we continue to deliver wins for America’s truckers.
From the White House, to agency headquarters, to congressional offices, to committee hearing rooms, Ӱɴý met with powerful decisionmakers in every corner of the nation’s capital to advocate for policies that will strengthen our essential industry.
With the help of Ӱɴý’s dedicated members, our message was heard loud and clear.
Engaging with Top Leaders
In January, a seismic shift occurred in Washington. A single-party trifecta, new agency leadership, and sweeping executive actions shook things up inside the Beltway. While other trade associations struggled to find their footing, Ӱɴý was fully prepared to capitalize on this opportunity to make progress on trucking’s top issues.
President Trump’s reelection allowed Ӱɴý to resume a productive relationship we had forged during his first administration to support an industry that provides good-paying jobs to more than 8.4 million Americans. Early on, Ӱɴý championed President Trump’s nominations to lead key agencies, including Sean Duffy at USDOT, Lee Zeldin at EPA, and Derek Barrs at FMCSA.
Our constructive approach was rewarded. In addition to establishing a positive rapport with the heads of agencies tasked with overseeing our industry, this year, Ӱɴý was invited—not once, but twice—to exclusive events at the White House, quite literally giving our members a front row seat in the halls of power.
Meanwhile, in the halls of Congress, Ӱɴý’s influence was also on display. Our association was asked to serve as an expert witness nine times before various committees in both the House and Senate, on issues ranging from fighting cargo theft to protecting independent truckers to helping veterans find jobs in the transportation sector. These invitations amounted to ringing endorsements of Ӱɴý’s position as the leading voice of America’s trucking industry. Our repeated testimony was a testament to the deep relationships we have forged with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Further solidifying Ӱɴý’s relationship with Congress was a record-breaking Call on Washington season. This year’s COW program shattered previous records, bringing 430 trucking leaders from 38 states to D.C., where they held 515 meetings with their representatives and added 245 cosponsors to our priority bills. These highly impactful interactions on Capitol Hill included face-to-face conversations with the top leaders in both the House and Senate: Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader John Thune. Ӱɴý also encouraged our members to invite their representatives to visit their places of business, which resulted in 10 Members of Congress stopping by truck terminals to meet employees and hear directly from truckers about the issues that are important to them.
Restoring Common Sense
All of this engagement across the executive and legislative branches has paid off. This year was defined by a string of pro-trucking policy victories. New regulations and new laws shaped by Ӱɴý have given a meaningful boost to our industry and helped to offset the enormously challenging headwinds created by the prolonged freight recession.
Of course, Ӱɴý’s number one priority was to eliminate EV truck mandates. These exorbitant, wildly unrealistic regulations imposed by California and EPA set the trucking industry up for failure. If allowed to move forward, electrification requirements would have caused severe disruptions to the supply chain and sparked a wave of closures and consolidations.
Ӱɴý led the charge against these impossible emissions standards and laid the groundwork for their ultimate demise. In June, Congress passed resolutions endorsed by Ӱɴý that nullified California’s EV mandates and blocked CARB’s ability to issue similar regulations in the future. Shortly thereafter, in the culmination of over a year of Ӱɴý’s advocacy, EPA announced the repeal of GHG Phase 3.
This course correction put the United States back on the path towards realistic national emissions standards. Restoring achievable emissions targets is a wise move given that this proven, collaborative model is responsible for impressive environmental gains. It is the reason why 60 of today’s trucks emit what just one truck did in 1988.
Furthermore, Ӱɴý has been in lockstep with the U.S. Department of Transportation this year as Secretary Sean Duffy has worked to close loopholes and strengthen oversight on driver qualification, training, and licensing—especially English Language Proficiency (ELP), cabotage violations, and CDL integrity. These measures are not just regulatory wins—they’re practical steps to restore integrity and level the playing field for motor carriers who operate safely and follow the rules.
And continuing the theme of restoring common sense to agency rulemakings, in September, Ӱɴý welcomed the U.S. Department of Labor’s announcement that it intends to rescind the destructive independent contractor rule. This reckless, job-killing scheme finalized by Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su would have wiped out choice and crushed opportunity. Ӱɴý opened a dialogue with Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on this issue before her confirmation and continued the discussion at our Mid-Year Management Session in Scottsdale, where she addressed our members. We appreciate that she and the Trump Administration stood up for the rights of hundreds of thousands of independent truckers.
Advancing Pro-Trucking Legislation
As partisanship has risen in recent years, legislative activity has plummeted. This year was no exception. Despite this unfavorable environment, however, Ӱɴý managed to secure several monumental legislative victories in 2025.
In addition to advancing resolutions that rolled back California’s EV mandates, Congress passed the Big, Beautiful Bill. The law maintains 2017 corporate and individual tax rates, guaranteeing tax certainty for trucking companies. It also restores 100% bonus depreciation for new equipment, while improving access to CDL and technician training and supporting alternative fuel tax credits. These pro-business, pro-growth tax policies that Ӱɴý advocated for will ensure that motor carriers are better able to plan for the future, invest in their workforce and equipment, and move freight safely and efficiently.
Ӱɴý has also continued our campaign to put a stop to lawsuit abuse. When the plaintiffs’ bar perverts civil litigation into a casino game of “jackpot justice,” everyone pays. But the trucking industry has refused to be treated like a rolling piggy bank any longer. In state after state, the Ӱɴý Federation is standing up and fighting back. We have already passed tort reform bills in 15 states, and our efforts continue to expand coast to coast. This year, our allies on Capitol Hill introduced six bills that would restore balance and fairness to our court system.
Speaking of criminal justice, Ӱɴý has been the preeminent voice calling for a crackdown on skyrocketing cases of cargo theft that are . The progress we have made is quantifiable. Nearly half the members of the House and Senate are now cosponsors of the legislative solution that Ӱɴý helped author: the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. CORCA would centralize data and increase coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement as well as the trucking industry to proactively unravel schemes orchestrated by transnational criminals. Ӱɴý President & CEO Chris Spear testified about this issue before a House Judiciary Subcommittee in December, teeing the bill up for passage next year.
And in the waning days of the congressional calendar, Ӱɴý secured a few final victories for our Government Freight and Moving & Storage Conferences. Within the annual defense bill, Ӱɴý added language that will address waste, fraud, and abuse in the transportation of military freight; improve the process and enhance oversight for the relocation of military families; and respect truck drivers by guaranteeing them access to restrooms while on military bases.
The Road Ahead
When Congress returns in 2026, Ӱɴý is prepared to build on the momentum of a record-setting year. At the top of Congress’ January to-do list is passing the annual transportation funding bill. The legislation includes a number of provisions backed by Ӱɴý, from expanding truck parking to helping reduce cargo theft and predatory towing.
Congress is also expected to accelerate negotiations related to the next highway bill before the current authorization under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill expires. Ӱɴý has communicated our priorities to Congress and the administration through multiple hearings, letters, and meetings with top officials. Our goal is to ensure that the final bill promotes a safe, efficient transportation system that is befitting the world’s greatest nation. Modern roads, bridges, and ports will keep our industry strong and rolling towards a bright future in 2026 and beyond.