Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act
Congress Proposes Requiring Overtime Pay for Millions of Truck Drivers
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would change federal labor laws to ensure truck drivers receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. Right now, a rule from 1938 allows many trucking companies to skip paying extra for these long hours.
- By removing this specific exemption, the policy would require employers to pay drivers 'time-and-a-half' for any extra work. This matches the rules that already apply to most other hourly workers in the United States.
- The proposal aims to improve pay for drivers and help solve the national driver shortage by making the career more financially rewarding. It also seeks to improve road safety by reducing the pressure on drivers to work excessive hours just to make ends meet.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Small trucking companies and owner-operators who employ drivers would face higher labor costs if forced to pay overtime for hours over 40 per week. Many small freight carriers operate on thin margins, and the added expense could squeeze profits or force them to restructure schedules. On the other hand, better-compensated drivers may reduce turnover, which is extremely costly in the trucking industry — potentially offsetting some of the increased wage expense over time.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
5 articles
Bill would guarantee overtime pay for employee truckers
Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Mark Takano reintroduced the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act on March 6, 2025. The bill seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to remove the motor carrier exemption, ensuring drivers receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked beyond 40 per week.
Bipartisan bill introduced to guarantee truck drivers overtime pay
Lawmakers have introduced legislation to nix the 1938 clause exempting motor carriers from providing overtime pay. While labor groups like the Teamsters and OOIDA embrace the bill as a safety and fairness measure, the American Trucking Associations warns it could boost inflation and reduce pay.
Truckers need overtime exemption removed to benefit from 'Beautiful' bill
Following the signing of President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' tax cuts, the OOIDA is urging Congress to pass the GOT Truckers Act. Without it, drivers remain ineligible for the new federal tax exemption on overtime wages because they are currently exempt from receiving overtime pay.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(2)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.