Llame al (888) 572-7520 para hablar con un agente
Enviar mensaje a un agente
New highway bill sparks debate: truckers pay nearly 20 times more per mile traveled than the average car owner.
Congress is currently working on the development of a new highway bill. However, a debate has emerged within the trucking industry that could influence the final decision. According to data from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), truckers pay nearly 20 times more per mile traveled than the average car owner. This has raised questions about whether their contributions to the Federal Highway Trust Fund are truly fair.
Charles Sperry, a research analyst at OOIDA, told Land Line Now that the association’s members are overpaying for highway maintenance. According to data from the Tax Foundation, the average car driver pays about 2.1 cents per kilometer in federal and state fuel taxes, while a typical heavy truck pays 4.1 cents per mile in federal fuel taxes alone.
Although this is nearly double what passenger vehicles pay, it represents only a fraction of the total federal taxes that truckers are required to pay. This situation has raised concerns within OOIDA, which is now calling on the government for answers and solutions.
Truckers pay more than enough in taxes
According to OOIDA data published in Land Line, truckers pay an average of $11,625 annually in federal fuel taxes, an additional $27,550 in federal excise taxes on tires, trailers, and trucks, and $2,921 in fees related to heavy vehicle use, registration, and other charges.
In total, the average OOIDA member contributes around $42,132 per year to the Highway Trust Fund, while the average passenger vehicle driver contributes between $137 and $296 annually. Given that OOIDA members drive just over 109,000 miles per year on average, their contribution amounts to about 38.6 cents per mile, according to the Foundation.
It is also worth noting that these figures do not include state fuel taxes, which are often used to fund non-transportation-related state projects. With all this in mind, Sperry concludes that truckers are already paying more than their fair share.
What does the government say about high taxes on truckers?
Congressman Mike Collins, a trucking company owner, has publicly acknowledged the significant financial contribution that truckers make to the Highway Trust Fund.
During a House subcommittee hearing in April, he stated that truckers already pay more than their fair share. In his view, increasing their tax burden is not the right solution for boosting the fund’s revenues.
Collins outlined the various taxes faced by the industry, including the federal heavy vehicle use tax. To him, these financial obligations clearly show that truckers already carry a substantial portion of the cost of maintaining the nation’s road infrastructure.
For this reason, OOIDA is calling for a balanced and fair approach in drafting the new highway bill—one that fully considers the total financial burden truckers shoulder each year. While the association has a key ally in Congress, most lawmakers have yet to address the issue. OOIDA is hoping for a timely response and a fair resolution that supports America’s truck drivers.
What is the new TIFIA plan to make infrastructure financing easier in the U.S.?
The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) aims to modernize roads across the country. From now on, all types of eligible projects will be able to finance up to 49% of their costs, a significant increase from the previous cap of 33% for most cases.
Top fleet manager’s concerns: safety, compliance, and cost control
The J.J. Keller Center for Market Insights recently published a study on the top concerns of today’s fleet managers. The J.J. Keller Center for Market
NRII temporary exemption granted by the FMCSA
The FMCSA announced on July 14 an exemption to the new NRII rule to facilitate the transition. On June 23, the U.S. Department of Transportation
Flash Floods Shut Down U.S. Roads: Infrastructure Fails Amid Extreme Weather
A violent storm slammed the U.S. Northeast on the night of Monday, July 14, triggering devastating flash floods across New York and New Jersey
Grand Canyon Lodge Burned Down Amid Ongoing Southern U.S. Flood Recovery
The United States is facing a summer kickoff marked by simultaneous emergencies. In the West, wildfires have forced the full closure of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Meanwhile, in the South and parts of the East, widespread flooding has submerged highways, closed key transport corridors, and left entire communities under water. The combined impact is putting pressure on logistics systems, disrupting both tourism and the movement of goods and services.
Road rage spikes during summer: beware and be safe
Stress behind the wheel, combined with extreme heat that makes us more irritable, can lead to more than just frustration: it can trigger road rage.
Business hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. California time