The plan would make permanent an interim ban announced in January by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. It would apply to drivers of interstate buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds.
Truck and bus drivers who text while driving could face civil or criminal penalties.
LaHood has been campaigning against texting and cell phone use while driving. President Barack Obama signed an executive order last year directing federal employees not to text while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment.
Government studies have found that drivers take their eyes off the road for nearly 5 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting.
