WASHINGTON, D.C. — The recent passage of a major tax reform bill by the U.S. House of Representatives is bringing financial stability for many truckers, but industry leaders say it still leaves critical overtime pay issues unresolved.

On July 3, lawmakers approved the One Big Beautiful Bill, which extends and modifies key parts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Among its headline measures is the elimination of taxes on overtime pay for many blue-collar workers and the extension of estate and individual income tax cuts.

While some trucking organizations welcomed the move, others say it falls short for drivers who are currently excluded from overtime protections under the outdated Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

“Eliminating taxes on overtime pay for blue collar workers is a well-intentioned move. Unfortunately, truckers won’t benefit from this key provision… due to their exclusion from overtime protections,” said Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), in a statement.

Meanwhile, American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear praised the bill, calling it “much-needed certainty for the trucking industry — the backbone of our economy — to grow and thrive.”

“By passing this bill, Congress averted the largest tax increase in our nation’s history. Neither the economy nor our supply chain would have survived such a travesty,” Spear said, adding that most motor carriers, which are small businesses operating ten trucks or fewer, can now plan for the future and invest in better equipment and good-paying jobs.

However, OOIDA continues to urge lawmakers to pass the GOT Truckers Act, which would finally guarantee truckers overtime pay protections and make them eligible for the same tax relief on overtime wages as other workers.

According to ATA, the industry sees the new package as a vital step forward — but drivers’ advocates stress that overtime reform remains a missing piece that Congress needs to fix.