trucking

Federal Highway Bill Targets Predatory Truck Lease Agreements

Lawmakers have embedded strict regulations against predatory commercial truck leasing arrangements in the BUILD America 250 Act, marking a significant shift in federal oversight of owner-operator agreements. The legislation directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue formal regulations within two years prohibiting these practices among motor carriers under federal jurisdiction. The bill specifically targets arrangements where carriers control driver compensation, work assignments, and debt while drivers accumulate no equity or lose accrued equity in their vehicles. Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer called the measure "an absolute win for small business truckers," noting these schemes have "fleeced truck drivers for decades." The regulatory framework aims to eliminate agreements that leave drivers financially trapped despite promises of vehicle ownership.