We at ICSA are happy the infrastructure bill was passed and signed into law this week, including money both for repairs of existing roads and bridges as well as for new construction to create more highway capacity. Just as important is what’s NOT in the bill, such as several anti-truck provisions, including:
Unfortunately, funding for expanded truck parking was another casualty of the final bill, leaving individual states the challenge of finding other funding to improve truck parking. The lack of safe truck parking tied for the #1 issue cited by truck drivers in the recent 10 Top Trucking Issues survey conducted by ATRI, as described above.
For truckers, testing for marijuana continues. Just as with testing for cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and opioids, testing for marijuana will continue to be conducted on a pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty basis.
As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with tires, brakes, and overall vehicle condition. Summer heat doesn’t just stress drivers, it amplifies mechanical weaknesses, making maintenance and inspections more important than ever.
The 2026 road construction season is going to be one of the largest in U.S. history and anyone using the roads should be prepared for what’s coming.