Brownley Introduces Legislation to Prevent Predatory Truck Leasing Schemes

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the introduction of the Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act (H.R. 5423), legislation to crack down on exploitative leasing practices in the trucking industry that trap truck drivers in cycles of debt and prevent them from becoming independent owner-operators.

"Current predatory leasing arrangements exploit hardworking truck drivers who are simply trying to build a career and support their families," said Congresswoman Brownley. "Far too many drivers are trapped in crushing debt, denied fair pay, and prevented from ever owning their trucks. These abusive practices push dedicated workers out of the industry, create unnecessary financial stress, and can even put drivers and the public at risk on our roads. My bill will help put an end to these abusive practices, level the playing field for drivers by giving them a fair shot at ownership, strengthen the trucking workforce, and make our roads safer."

While traditional lease agreements can allow truckers to operate as independent small businesses, many lease-purchase or "lease-to-own" arrangements are structured in ways that exploit drivers. Under these agreements, a motor carrier (or related entity) owns a truck and leases it to a driver, who makes payments in hopes of eventually owning the vehicle and agrees to operate it exclusively for the motor carrier. In these schemes, the lessor and motor carrier are effectively the same entity.

Companies offering these agreements often offer false promises of fair compensation, future ownership of the truck, and independence from employer-employee requirements. While the supposed goal of these agreements is for the driver to become a full-fledged owner-operator at the end of the lease, these schemes rarely work out that way. Instead, drivers are often paid pennies on the dollar and have their work limited by the motor carrier to prevent them from ever securing ownership of the truck. They are also provided with no independence to seek better compensation or more steady work with other motor carriers. This exploitative system pushes individuals who genuinely desire a career in trucking out of the industry and further contributes to driver churn. The financial and personal pressures resulting from escalating debt can also create highway safety risks.

Created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address these problems, the Truck Leasing Task Force (TLTF) was tasked with examining the terms, conditions, and fairness of common truck leasing arrangements. In January 2025, following a series of productive meetings and discussions with stakeholders, TLTF submitted its findings to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Labor, and Congress. The final report found that inequitable lease-purchase programs negatively affect individual drivers (especially new drivers), the trucking workforce, the health of the industry, and roadway safety.

The Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act would implement the TLTF recommendations and require the U.S. Department of Transportation to promulgate regulations to prohibit the use of predatory commercial motor vehicle lease-purchase programs by motor carriers within one year of enactment.

The Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act is endorsed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and Teamsters.

"OOIDA and truckers across America applaud Representative Brownley for taking on the predatory lease-purchase schemes that have fleeced truck drivers for decades. These scams dangle the promise of ownership but leave drivers broke, trapped in debt, and kicked to the curb with nothing to show for it. These schemes represent the worst in trucking and the Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act would put a stop to this practice once and for all," said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer.

"Predatory truck leasing arrangements target decent hardworking people looking for careers in the trucking industry only to lead them to financial ruin," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "The Teamsters Union was proud to serve on the Truck Leasing Task Force and applauds Representative Brownley for using its recommendations to craft the Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act. This bill can finally help put an end to these nefarious practices in a core American industry. The Teamsters strongly endorse the legislation."

"Truck drivers keep America moving. They deserve fair treatment and a real chance to succeed. The Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act will help stop abusive practices, restore integrity to the industry, and ensure that drivers can build sustainable careers while keeping our roads safe," added Brownley.

Read the text of the bill here.

Issues: 119th Congress, Jobs, Economy, and Small Business