WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) introduced the Ceasing Age-Based (CAB) Trucking Restrictions Act, which would eliminate unnecessary restrictions to allow more truckers to keep the supply chain moving. His first bill introduced in the 118th Congress is a step towards fulfilling the commitment to America made by the House of Representatives’ Republican Majority: to strengthen the supply chain and build an economy that’s strong.

“For the better part of two years, families have struggled to get the goods they need, from baby formula to toilet paper, and Joe Biden has failed to fix it,” Rep. Mast said. “House Republicans are ready to get to work and deliver for the American people. The first bill I am introducing this Congress keeps our promise to fix the supply chain by cutting through red tape that keeps qualified drivers off the road.”

While many states allow truckers between the ages of 18 to 20 to transport goods within the state, any transportation across the state boundaries - or interstate transportation - requires that the trucker is at least 21 years old per federal law. Under current law, picking up goods from a port is interpreted as interstate transportation even if the port is located in the same state as the distribution center or the final destination. This precludes 18 to 20-year-olds from transporting cargo coming off of ships at overloaded ports, even if they have a commercial driver’s license and drive semi-trucks elsewhere within their state.

The CAB Trucking Restrictions Act would eliminate these logistical hurdles in order to maximize the labor force in the United States and address a contributing factor of the supply chain crisis.

Rep. Mast was joined by 19 other Members of Congress in introducing the bill: Representatives Scott Perry (PA-10), Ashley Hinson (IA-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), John Moolenaar (MI-04), Burgess Owens (UT-04), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Michael Guest (MS-03), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Greg Steube (FL-17), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), David Valadao (CA-22), Barry Moore (AL-02), Bill Johnson (OH-06), Steve Womack (AR-03), Lauren Boebert (CO-03), and Brad Finstad (MN-01).

The full text of the legislation can be read here.