Dive Brief:

• Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) told the Washington Examiner that while he will not run for reelection in 2018, he plans to focus his efforts on the upcoming $1 trillion infrastructure bill.
• Shuster said the decision was difficult, but also believes he made the right decision to devote all of his efforts to the new bill, which he said Trump is "excited" about.
• According to The Hill, Shuster is the fourth House committee chairman to turn down reelection after the end of his term.

Dive Insight:

Shuster's track record as chairman of the House's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee shows the western Pennsylvania native has demonstrated commitment to getting things done. Shuster passed the FAST Act — a five-year highway bill to fund transit projects — in 2015 (according to The Hill), which was the biggest, most comprehensive highway bill since 2005.

Now in his final months in office, he's determined to roll out an enormous infrastructure bill he's confident Trump will sign. Such a bill could be a big win for freight carriers, which have clamored for infrastructure funding for years.

But, for the trucking industry, losing Shuster could be a blow — depending on who takes his place. The industry holds Shuster in high regard for having "improved and modernized our transportation system," according to American Trucking Associations CEO Chris Spear.

"Throughout his career, Chairman Shuster has been a champion for highway safety and the trucking industry, leading the charge for increased investment in the critical highway arteries that our trucks depend on to move the nation’s goods," Spear said in a press release. "As Congress and the President work to address our nation’s infrastructure this year, we intend to help Chairman Shuster cap an outstanding career leading the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee."

The repute of Shuster's term hinges a bit on the upcoming infrastructure bill, which was also promised by Trump in his 2016 presidential campaign. Such an enormous bill has the potential to make or break success for the trucking industry.

At a Senate hearing before the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee and Environment and Public Works Committee on Dec. 20, Spear said the trucking industry desperately needs an infrastructure overhaul.

"The Highway Trust Fund is projected to run short of the revenue necessary to maintain current spending levels by 2021, creating a huge funding gap that could force states to cancel or delay critical projects," he said. "The U.S. spends less than half of what is necessary to address these needs."

Spear's testimony was received favorably by both Democrat and Republican senators, and both parties acknowledged the need for infrastructure funding.

At the hearing, Spear suggested a $0.20/gallon gas tax to raise money to build better infrastructure, but because of the upcoming infrastructure bill, it is not yet clear how the industry's suggestions will be implemented into the final bill.