06/27/2025

Smarter Transportation Policies Will Put America in the Driver’s Seat

The Washington Times | Chris Jahn | June 24, 2025

Smarter Transportation Policies Will Put America in the Driver’s Seat

OPINION:

President Trump has laid out an ambitious vision for America’s future one that prioritizes onshoring manufacturing, strengthening trade, and revitalizing our economy. But to realize this vision, we must address a critical, often overlooked piece of the puzzle: transportation.

For the chemical industry, transportation isn’t just a logistical concern; it’s a lifeline. Our industry depends on all modes of transportation to bring in raw materials and deliver finished products to virtually every part of the economy. Last year alone, more than one billion tons of chemical products moved across the country, supporting everything from microchips and cars to medicines and energy all the things we depend on every day.

If we want to make more in America and lead in global trade, we must do a better job moving American-made goods, including chemistry. In fact, a recent survey conducted by Morning Consult for the American Chemistry Council found that more than three-quarters of Americans agree that the chemical industry is essential to the U.S. being able to compete with other countries. In fact, they want growing chemical production here at home to be a priority. That means we must modernize our transportation policies to match the pace and scale of today’s economy.

Any good golfer knows that you must have the right clubs in the bag to navigate a challenging course. To boost our transportation network, the Administration needs to be equipped with smarter and better policies.

Unfortunately, many of our current policies are outdated, inefficient, and in some cases, actively holding us back. But there’s a path forward and it starts with looking at several common-sense policies that have bipartisan support in Congress.

First, we must untangle the tracks. The Surface Transportation Board (STB), created nearly 30 years ago, was designed to ensure fair, reliable, and competitive freight rail service. But today, its policies are too often complex, burdensome, and out of step with the needs of today’s challenges and the needs of shippers. The bipartisan Reliable Rail Service Act, sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, offers a promising foundation for reform by clarifying and enforcing railroads’ common carrier obligation to provide reliable service to their customers.

In addition, the STB must modernize its regulations to provide more American manufacturers access to more than one railroad. A competitive marketplace is the cornerstone for a stronger freight rail network. It’s time to give American producers the competitive and reliable rail service they need to succeed and reduce our country’s dependence on imports.

Second, we need to tap into the full potential of trucking. Updating federal truck weight standards on interstate highways is a commonsense step that would allow us to move more goods with fewer trucksreducing congestion, emissions, and infrastructure wear and tear. The SHIP IT Act, championed by Representatives Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and Jim Costa, D-Calif., in the last Congress, includes thoughtful proposals that could be used to safely increase truck capacity and help address supply chain challenges.

Fixing these issues is an economic imperative and essential to putting American manufacturing in the driver’s seat when it comes to competing with the rest of the world.

President Donald Trump has a golden opportunity to lead where others have fallen short. By removing regulatory barriers and embracing smarter transportation policies, we can strengthen our supply chains, grow our economy, and make America a manufacturing superpower.

Let’s equip our economy with the right transportation policies to competeand winon the global stage.

When chemistry creates, America competes. Learn more here about how the American Chemistry Council is helping build a stronger, more affordable nation.

• Chris Jahn is president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council. For more insights on how American success relies on American chemistry, follow Chris on LinkedIn and @JahnChris on X.