For Immediate Release:

September 8, 2025

Contact: MemberSupport@dealer.org

202-367-1169

WASHINGTON D.C. – Earlier today the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) formally submitted written comments in response to a Request for Information filed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to receive stakeholder feedback as Congress works to develop the next infrastructure bill. Congress’ last infrastructure bill, the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law”), authorized 5-years’ worth of investment into our nations surface infrastructure. With funding set to expire on September 30, 2026, NLBMDA is committed to working with DOT and Congress to advance a surface transportation bill which advances the priorities of the Lumber and Building Materials (LBM) industry.



Key recommendations in NLBMDA’s comments include:

• Addressing the driver shortage. Lumber dealers face growing challenges delivering building supplies due to a lack of qualified truck drivers. Through simplifying and modernizing the licensing process, recommendations proposed by NLBMDA would help ensure building materials reach job sites on time, keeping construction projects and local economies moving forward.
• Investing in workforce programs. With the shortage of truck drivers only expected to grow over the next decade, NLBMDA’s letter recommends several workforce development legislative solutions to promote opportunities in the transportation sector.
• Modernizing truck weight limits. NLBMDA makes recommendation for Congress and DOT to explore raising maximum gross-vehicle weight requires on the U.S. Interstate system. Allowing today’s modern trucks to carry increased loads would reduce shipping costs, cut fuel use, and ease traffic congestion.
• Strengthening rail and freight networks. NLBMDA’s letter calls for continued federal support for freight rail and multimodal projects key to moving lumber and building materials efficiently across the country.

“Our members supply the lumber and building materials that keep America’s residential construction industry moving. Continued investment in America’s infrastructure ensures those materials move efficiently, reaching jobs sites without delay,” said Jonathan Paine, President & CEO of NLBMDA. “We look forward to working with Congress and the Department of Transportation to pursue a surface transportation bill that supports growth, safety, and efficiency for the LBM industry and the broader economy.”

Read our full comments here. 

For questions, please reach out to NLBMDA’s Government Affairs Coordinator, Matthew Delaney at mdelaney@dealer.org

About NLBMDA

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) is the recognized voice and resource of the Lumber and Building Material industry to federal legislators and regulatory agencies in Washington DC. NLBMDA provides its members the resources and education to comply with federal laws, codes and regulations. NLBMDA identifies challenges and growth opportunities to the industry and collaborates with its Federated Association Partners to develop solutions that require national implementation. Visit us at www.Dealer.org to learn more.