In a letter to all members of the House of Representatives, ATA President & CEO Bill Graves called for support for the Kennedy–Smith Amendment on tolls.
The House is scheduled to take up the long-stalled highway reauthorization bill, H.R. 3, today.
“Tolling existing Interstates would have a devastating impact on the trucking industry,” Graves told members of Congress, and toll rates could exceed by many times over the industry’s profit margin, which is just two to four cents per mile. “Most trucking companies (over 85 percent) are small businesses, operating six or fewer trucks, and would find it difficult to compete if faced with high tolls,” Graves said.
“The harm to the trucking industry would soon be felt throughout the economy.” Graves reminded Congress that America depends on truckers to haul 87 percent of the nation’s freight, by value. One of every 15 jobs in the U.S. economy is trucking-related.
Graves said the amendment would generate new revenue for additional Interstate highway capacity from tolls on newly constructed lanes. “The Highway Trust Fund could be reserved for fixing existing Interstates and making improvements to other parts of the transportation system using fuel taxes and other highway user fees already paid by the trucking industry and motorists. This year’s amendment also makes clear that existing congestion pricing projects would be allowed to continue.”