Commercial truck council

AN ACT Relating to establishing a commercial truck safety and 1
education council; amending RCW 46.17.315; adding a new section to 2
chapter 43.59 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.68 RCW; and 3
creating a new section. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:6
(a) The trucking industry is an essential part of our everyday 7
lives. The trucking industry facilitates essential economic activity, 8
including through the transport of goods for logistics, e-commerce, 9
construction, agriculture, by driving economic growth, creating jobs, 10
and enabling the movement of raw materials and finished products for 11
all sectors. Trucks are vital for businesses to operate efficiently, 12
reach customers, and meet supply chain demands. 13
(b) In Washington, the trucking industry contributes 14
significantly to state and federal roadway taxes owed by Washington 15
motorists. In 2024, trucks accounted for 8.8 percent of the miles 16
driven upon Washington roadways. The trucking industry accounts for 17
over 170,000 jobs in Washington. Eighty percent of communities in 18
Washington depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods.19
(c) The importance of collecting and evaluating data related to 20
commercial vehicle collisions and safety incidents throughout 21
H-2669.2
HOUSE BILL 2410
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Fey, Barkis, Hall, Zahn, Reed, and Donaghy
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 HB 2410
Washington state. Over the last 10 years, Washingtonians have seen an 1
uptick in collisions involving large trucks, underscoring the urgent 2
need for targeted strategies to improve roadway safety. According to 3
the Washington traffic safety commission, commercial vehicles were 4
involved in an increasing percentage of fatal and serious injury 5
crashes, with factors such as distracted driving, driver fatigue, and 6
inadequate training contributing to these incidents. Through robust 7
safety initiatives and ongoing evaluation, the legislature aims to 8
focus efforts on a reduction in these crash rates and enhancement of 9
the overall safety of Washington's transportation network.10
(d) The Washington state trucking industry faces many challenges, 11
including challenges related to workforce development, highway 12
safety, highway planning, and public education. A coordinated and 13
focused mechanism is critical to promote education, training, 14
research, and development for enhanced safety and efficiency within 15
the industry. Such a system provides for better communication between 16
industry, the public, enforcement agencies, local government, and the 17
legislature, to enhance the safe, efficient delivery of goods and 18
services and to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and 19
activities. 20
(2) It is the intent of this act to establish the Washington 21
state commercial truck safety and education council, hereinafter 22
referred to as the "council," to deliver programs and projects to 23
advance state interests in roadway safety and improve the safety of 24
the commercial truck industry through cooperative public-private 25
programs that focus on examining crash trends and evidence-based best 26
practices in driver education, improved regulatory compliance, 27
industry training, and educational programs to drive the safe 28
movement of goods on Washington state highways. It is also the intent 29
of the legislature to ensure that adequate funding is provided to 30
implement this act to improve safety and efficiency in the trucking 31
industry. 32
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.59 33
RCW to read as follows: 34
(1) The Washington state commercial truck safety and education 35
council is established in the Washington traffic safety commission to 36
deliver programs and projects that improve the safety of the 37
commercial truck industry through cooperative public-private programs 38
that focus on examining crash trends and evidence-based best 39
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practices in driver education, improved regulatory compliance, 1
industry training, and educational programs. The council shall 2
consist of the following members, appointed by the governor:3
(a) The chief of the Washington state patrol, or the chief's 4
designee; 5
(b) The director of the department of licensing, or the 6
director's designee; 7
(c) The secretary of the department of transportation, or the 8
secretary's designee; 9
(d) The executive director of the Washington trucking 10
associations or the executive director's designee;11
(e) The director of the Washington traffic safety commission, or 12
the director's designee; 13
(f) The executive director of the Washington state board for 14
community and technical colleges, or the executive director's 15
designee; 16
(g) One member of the general public; 17
(h) Three members from a trucking industry association or 18
associations as representatives of the trucking industry, with 19
consideration given to a list of six nominees representative of the 20
trucking industry submitted by the Washington trucking association.21
(2) In addition, the council may, where feasible, consult with 22
other governmental entities or individuals from the public and 23
private sector who have a unique interest or expertise in commercial 24
vehicle safety, training, and efficient operations.25
(3) The Washington state commercial truck safety and education 26
council must meet at least quarterly. The council shall initially 27
convene at the call of the director of the Washington traffic safety 28
commission, or the director's designee, no later than the third 29
Monday in January 2027. Subsequent meetings of the council shall be 30
at the call of the chair or six members. 31
(a) The council shall annually elect a chair and other such 32
officers as it deems appropriate from its membership.33
(b) Members of the council shall serve terms of four years each 34
on a staggered schedule to be established by the first council. For 35
purposes of initiating a staggered schedule of terms, some members of 36
the first council may initially serve two years and some members may 37
initially serve four years. 38
(4)(a) The Washington state commercial truck safety and education 39
council may exercise powers necessary, pertinent, convenient, or 40
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incidental to carrying out its purposes including, but not limited 1
to, the following: 2
(i) Development of programs and projects that carry out the 3
purpose of the council including, but not limited to, enhancing 4
safety and training, providing for research and development, and 5
educating the public; 6
(ii) Providing for the payment of council costs with funds 7
designed for this use under RCW 46.17.315(2); 8
(iii) Coordination of council activities with industry 9
associations, and others as appropriate, to provide efficient 10
delivery of services and to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts 11
and activities; 12
(iv) Authority to contract with any public or private person, 13
partnership, association, or corporation to carry out the purpose of 14
the council; 15
(v) Authority to apply for, receive, and accept grants, loans, 16
advances, and contributions from any source of money, property, 17
labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied for 18
the council's purposes; 19
(vi) Authority to enter into cooperative endeavor agreements with 20
the trucking foundation of Washington, or its successor entity, a 21
nonprofit corporation, for the use of staff and resources to carry 22
out the powers and duties of the council; and 23
(vii) Authority to provide grants targeted at improving 24
commercial motor vehicle safety and training. 25
(b) The council shall control the expenditures of the commercial 26
truck safety and education account created in section 4 of this act. 27
Not more than five percent of the money deposited in the commercial 28
truck safety and education account may be expended for administrative 29
expenses related to use of the account. 30
(5) Beginning December 31, 2027, the council shall annually 31
report its activities, findings, and recommendations during the 32
preceding year to the transportation committees of the legislature by 33
December 31st. 34
(6) The council may solicit and accept gifts, grants, bequests, 35
devises, or other funds from public and private sources to support 36
its activities. 37
(7) The governor may remove any member of the Washington state 38
commercial truck safety and education council for cause including, 39
but not limited to, neglect of duty, misconduct, malfeasance or 40
p. 4 HB 2410
misfeasance in office, or upon written request of two-thirds of the 1
members of the council. Upon the death, resignation, or removal of a 2
member, the governor shall appoint a replacement to fill the 3
remainder of the unexpired term. 4
(8) Members of the Washington state commercial truck safety and 5
education council who are not public employees shall be compensated 6
in accordance with RCW 43.03.250 and shall be reimbursed for travel 7
expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the council in 8
accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. 9
(9)(a) Documents prepared by or for the council are inadmissible 10
and may not be used in a civil or administrative proceeding, except 11
that any document that exists before its use or consideration in a 12
review by the council, or that is created independently of such 13
review, does not become inadmissible merely because it is reviewed or 14
used by the council. For confidential information, such as personally 15
identifiable information and medical records, which are obtained by 16
the council, the council may not publicly disclose such confidential 17
information. No person who was in attendance at a meeting of the 18
council or who participated in the creation, retention, collection, 19
or maintenance of information or documents specifically for the 20
council shall be permitted to testify in any civil action as to the 21
content of such proceedings or of the documents and information 22
prepared specifically as part of the activities of the council. 23
However, recommendations from the council may be disclosed without 24
personal identifiers. 25
(b) The council may review, only to the extent otherwise 26
permitted by law or court rule when determined to be relevant and 27
necessary: Any law enforcement incident documentation, such as 28
incident reports, dispatch records, and victim, witness, and suspect 29
statements; any supplemental reports, probable cause statements, and 30
911 call taker's reports; and any other information determined to be 31
relevant to the review. The council must maintain the confidentiality 32
of such information to the extent required by any applicable law.33
(10) If acting in good faith, without malice, and within the 34
parameters of and protocols established under this chapter, 35
representatives of the council are immune from civil liability for an 36
activity related to reviews of particular fatalities and serious 37
injuries. 38
(11) This section must not be construed to provide a private 39
civil cause of action. 40
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Sec. 3. RCW 46.17.315 and 2011 c 171 s 60 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1) Before accepting an application for a motor vehicle base 3
plated in the state of Washington that is subject to highway 4
inspections and compliance reviews by the Washington state patrol 5
under RCW 46.32.080 or the international registration plan if base 6
plated in a foreign jurisdiction, the department, county auditor or 7
other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require the 8
applicant to pay a ((sixteen dollar )) $32 commercial vehicle safety 9
enforcement fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by 10
law. The ((sixteen dollar)) $32 fee: 11
(a) Must be apportioned for those vehicles operating interstate 12
and registered under the international registration plan;13
(b) Does not apply to trailers; and 14
(c) Is not refundable when the motor vehicle is no longer subject 15
to RCW 46.32.080. 16
(2) The department may deduct an amount equal to the cost of 17
administering the program. All remaining fees must be deposited with 18
the state treasurer and credited in equal proportions to the state 19
patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 20
46.68.070 and the commercial truck safety and education account 21
created in section 4 of this act. 22
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 46.68 23
RCW to read as follows: 24
The commercial truck safety and education account is created in 25
the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts directed to this 26
account in RCW 46.17.315(2) must be deposited in the account. 27
Expenditures from the account may be used only for commercial vehicle 28
safety and training improvement activities, administrative support, 29
and grant projects or programs administered by the Washington state 30
commercial truck safety and education council created in section 2 of 31
this act. Only the director of the Washington traffic safety 32
commission or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from 33
the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under 34
chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for 35
expenditures. 36
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