Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7354

House Bill Targets Deadly Truck Underride Crashes With Mandatory Side Guards, Could Save Thousands

Stop Underrides Act 2.0

about 2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Congress Moves to Mandate Side Underride Guards on Large Trucks

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to create new safety rules for large trucks and trailers. Specifically, it calls for 'side underride guards,' which are metal barriers that prevent smaller cars, cyclists, or pedestrians from sliding underneath the side of a truck during a crash.
The rules would apply to new trailers and large trucks. The goal is to save lives by making sure that if a car hits the side of a truck at speeds up to 40 miles per hour, the car stays out from under the truck, giving the people inside a much better chance of surviving.
Over the last 50 years, research shows that more than 30,000 people have died in these types of 'underride' crashes. Safety experts and families of victims have pushed for these changes because many trucks currently lack the physical barriers needed to stop a car from being crushed under the trailer.
If passed, the government would have 18 months to finish the new rules. Trucking companies would then have two years to make sure their new vehicles meet the safety standards. The guards must also be designed to help with fuel efficiency.
The bill also sets up a public website to track crash data and share stories from victims' families. It also provides free training for police officers to help them better identify and report when these specific types of accidents happen so the government has more accurate data.

Infrastructure Transportation

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Broader Impacts

DomainScoreShort-termLong-termReversibilityConfidence

Score

Scores: -5 (harmful) to +5 (beneficial)Short-term: 0-2 yearsLong-term: 10-30 years

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 4, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Feb 4, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

4 articles

Truck News·about 1 month ago

New legislation would mandate side underride guards

Democratic lawmakers introduced the Stop Underrides Act 2.0, requiring side underride guards on all new trailers and large trucks. The bill directs NHTSA to finalize rulemaking to prevent cars from sliding under trucks in crashes up to 40 mph, a move opposed by some trucking associations.

Safety+Health Magazine·about 1 month ago

Lawmakers renew push for side underride guards on trucks

The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 (S. 3775 and H.R. 7354) was announced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to improve road safety. Beyond mandating side guards, the bill would restart the DOT's Advisory Committee on Underride Protection and require new studies on front underride incidents.

Land Line Media·about 1 month ago

Underride mandate bill resurfaces

Lawmakers have renewed efforts to mandate side underride guards via the Stop Underrides Act 2.0. While safety groups advocate for the change, the OOIDA remains opposed, citing a NHTSA cost-benefit analysis suggesting the mandate could cost $1.2 billion while saving fewer than 20 lives annually.