The Highways and Transit Subcommittee on Wednesday reviewed U.S. Department of Transportation policies and programs affecting the trucking industry.
Four industry stakeholders were called as witnesses to provide testimony before the committee, charged with laying out the industry's top challenges and potential solutions as Congress prepares to reauthorize surface transportation programs.
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh noted at the hearing that this Congressional term has "the opportunity to pass the most pro-trucker highway bill in history."
Taking center stage was concern for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which has a projected deficit of more than $270 billion from 2025 to 2034, according to the Tax Foundation.
John Elliott, executive chairman of Michigan-based expeditor Load One (CCJ Top 250, No. 159) and past chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association, said his organization supports increasing fuel taxes to shore up the HTF provided they are indexed to an appropriate annual cap as needed with all generated funds dedicated to critical highway infrastructure projects.
As trucks get better fuel economy, the amount of highway funding goes down, a problem that is multiplied by electric vehicles that don't pay fuel taxes at all but continue to use the roads.
"The fuel tax system is a good system," Elliott said. "It’s time to update it."
