Mast bill to grow trucker labor force, reduce supply chain disruptions

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) sponsored legislation on Nov. 3 to alleviate a supply chain crisis by maximizing the number of truck drivers that are available to help keep the flow of goods moving. 

“Joe Biden’s supply chain crisis is driving prices up and delivery times down just as we approach the holiday season, and sadly, reindeer aren’t going to magically fix this problem,” Rep. Mast said. “To make matters worse, there is unnecessary government red tape preventing companies from implementing logical solutions to this problem. “

The congressman introduced the Supplying America Needs Truckers Aged 18 Act, H.R. 5847, or the SANTA 18 Act, which would eliminate red tape and allow more truckers to transport goods within the same state.

Under federal law, truck drivers must be at least 21 years old if they are transporting cargo across state boundaries, although many states allow truckers aged 18 to 20 years old to transport goods within the same state. Picking up goods from a port is interpreted by law as interstate transportation even if the port is located in the same state as the final location, Rep. Mast’s office explained. Therefore, 18- to 20-year-old semi-truck drivers with a commercial driver’s license are not allowed to collect cargo coming off ships from overburdened ports. 

“This bill would cut that red tape to get more drivers on the road in time for holiday deliveries,” said Rep. Mast, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is considering H.R. 5847. 

The SANTA 18 Act, if enacted, would allow more truckers to keep cargo moving across the country, the lawmaker said, noting that last month the Biden Administration opened some West Coast ports 24 hours a day, seven days a week to address the supply chain crisis.