Bridges not Bumpers Act of 2025

Summary

Requires the Department of Transportation to create a multi‑stakeholder working group to improve bridge‑clearance data sharing and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) routing, and to issue implementing regulations after the group’s recommendations. Establishes a national clearinghouse for bridge and tunnel clearance strike data, a grant program to fund preliminary engineering and mitigation planning, and calls for a national education campaign to reduce CMV bridge strikes. Authorizes modest federal funding for the clearinghouse ($5M) and grants ($5M per year for FY2026–FY2030). The bill also defines covered rental vehicles and provides limited civil immunity to GPS administrators that use clearance data supplied by state or federal governments.

• Creates a multi‑stakeholder working group to improve bridge‑clearance data and CMV routing and requires follow‑on rulemaking.
• Establishes a national clearinghouse for bridge/tunnel clearance strike data and best practices; authorizes $5M to stand up the clearinghouse.
• Creates a grant program (eligible recipients: State DOTs, local governments, MPOs, Class II/III railroads, safety orgs) with $5M/year for FY2026–FY2030 to plan and assess mitigation options.
• Directs a national education campaign (sense of Congress) targeted at commercial drivers, independent operators, and carrier associations to reduce bridge strikes.
• Provides limited civil immunity to GPS administrators that include clearance‑height information supplied by State or Federal governments.
• Defines covered rental vehicles (GVWR ≥5,700 lbs; rented <4 months; fleet size ≥5), clarifying which rental units are targeted for labeling/notice actions.
• Requires recommendations to address GPS data quality, signage, liability, driver education/CDL content, renter notices, and funding to integrate data into navigation tools.
• Prioritizes grant awards to states with higher incidence of bridge strikes as determined by the Secretary.