A new bill aims to boost the trucking industry by offering tax credits to truckers. Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA) just reintroduced the Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act, hoping to tackle what some call a semi-truck “driver shortage.” The bill would give tax breaks to both experienced and new truck drivers in an effort to recruit and retain more people behind the wheel.

What’s in the bill

The proposed law would offer a refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for truck drivers who put in at least 1,900 hours a year. New drivers and those in apprenticeship programs could qualify for an even bigger break, up to $10,000. The tax credits would only last for two years and would be limited to drivers who meet certain income requirements.

Lawmakers say this move will help fix supply chain problems by keeping more truckers on the road. But critics argue that the industry doesn’t have a driver shortage – just a turnover problem due to low pay and tough working conditions.

Is there really a truck driver shortage?

Many industry leaders claim that too few people want to drive trucks. But multiple studies, including a 2024 report from the National Academies of Sciences, have debunked the shortage myth. Instead, experts point to high turnover rates, Land Line, a trucking industry media outlet, recently shared. The real issue? Drivers don’t stick around because of long hours and low wages.

A 2023 study by economics professor Stephen V. Burks also shot down the idea of a shortage. Even the U.S. Department of Labor found that raising pay would solve the problem.

What truckers actually earn 

Truck driver pay varies a lot depending on the type of job and employer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median salary of $53,090 for heavy truck drivers in 2022. But some reports show much higher figures. Indeed.com estimates that U.S. truckers made an average of $93,298 per year as of March 2025.

Truckers also work long hours. Federal rules allow up to 11 hours of driving per day within a 14-hour work window, with a 70-hour limit per week. Many drivers push these limits to keep up with delivery schedules and earn enough to make the job worthwhile.

This isn’t the first time lawmakers have introduced this tax break. In 2023, a similar version of the bill got only seven co-sponsors before it faded out. The latest attempt could face the same uphill battle.

Supporters believe tax credits will bring more drivers into the industry. But if the real issue is pay and working conditions, will temporary tax breaks actually help? Truckers, economists, and industry insiders will be watching closely to see if this bill gains any traction…or if it’s just another political move that doesn’t address the real problem.