Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026:
- Truck parking, English proficiency requirement among trucking provisions in FY 2026 DOT appropriations bill.
- Oregon interstate bridge closure upcoming.
- Free mileage accounting, routing service expands functionality to Canada.
House funding bill includes money for truck parking, codifies ELP as OOS
The U.S. House on Thursday passed legislation that will provide funding for several areas of the government, including the Department of Transportation. The measure is a bipartisan effort and cleared the chamber with a 341-88 vote. It will now move to the Senate, where it will face a separate vote.
Legislation introduced last year to codify President Trump’s executive order requiring English language proficiency for truck drivers was included in the bill. A provision would require the DOT secretary to update federal regulations to ensure that non-compliance with the ELP requirement in 49 Code of Federal Regulations 391.11(b)(2) triggers an out-of-service order.
[Related: Congress looks to codify ELP requirements for truck drivers]
The legislation also earmarks $200 million solely for projects that provide commercial vehicle parking. Projects eligible for the funding would have to “be within reasonable access to or in the right of way of an Interstate highway, the National Highway System, or the National Highway Freight Network,” according to the legislation. The bill would also bar any funding recipients from charging fees to truck drivers to use parking constructed, expanded, opened, maintained, or improved with grant funding.
Language in the bill would also prevent any of the $200 million for truck parking to be used “for the construction, or development phase activities that would enable the construction, of charging or fueling infrastructure for the propulsion of a vehicle, including a commercial motor vehicle.”
Finally, the bill would also ban the use of funds by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to require the use of electronic logging devices for trucks transporting livestock or insects -- an exemption that has been in place since the implementation of the ELD rule.
Unlike the first draft of the fiscal year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bill introduced last summer, the version approved Thursday does not include a ban on any rule to require speed limiters on heavy-duty trucks. It also removed a provision to protect the federal preemption determination as regards California’s meal and rest break rule.
With this bill’s passage, the House has now passed all 12 annual appropriations measures to keep various departments open through Sept. 30. The Senate is expected to vote on the bills next week before the Jan. 30 deadline.
[Related: Truckers asked to participate in truck parking survey for third Jason's Law report]
I-205 bridge closure planned for Monday
Following an overnight closure earlier this month, the Abernethy Bridge on Interstate 205 near Portland, Oregon, will close overnight Monday, Jan. 26, for removal of an old bridge sign.
Monday’s overnight closure will be between OR 99E and OR 43, including the on-ramp from OR 99E to southbound I-205 and the OR 43 ramp to northbound I-205. The closure hours will be 11 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday.
This work was rescheduled after a high wind forecast canceled the original overnight closure last Friday. Last Saturday night's closure for installation of the new sign was completed.
I-205 travelers will use detours on OR 224, OR 99E and I-5. The Oregon DOT asks that drivers follow the signs and plan extra time into your trip.
As with any construction project, closure dates and timing are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen events.
ProBuilt Miles accounting/routing service expands into Canada
After launching a new, free tool for truck miles accounting/routing between pickups and deliveries in the United States in December, ProBuilt Software’s ProBuilt Miles platform has now expanded into Canada.
With the expansion, ProBuilt Miles now supports Canadian mileage calculations and routing.
ProBuilt Software also announced that ProBuilt Miles has evolved beyond traditional truck mapping systems with Floating Forms technology, which helps with multitasking and routing. With the update, dispatchers and owner-operators can plan, compare, and optimize multiple routes side-by-side in real time.
Routes are calculated using truck-specific logic designed for commercial operations, including routing constraints and configuration options such as vehicle dimensions, axle load, weight, hazmat considerations, tolls, ferries, and commercial road restrictions, not consumer GPS assumptions.
ProBuilt Miles also automatically produces jurisdictional mileage (state-by-state/province-by-province) for compliance and reporting requirements.
ProBuilt Miles is offered free of charge, including for its new Canadian-based trucking companies and owner-operator users.
[Related: Why short-miles pay persists for drivers, leased owners: 'Commercial convention']
