Trucking industry should be taxed for its true cost - Truckers' Trucking Forum

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 11.27.2007

Trucking industry should be taxed for its true cost
11/27/07

Quote:

Eighteenth century English writer Samuel Johnson once observed, "When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully."

Crude oil near $100 per barrel ought to concentrate our minds in U.S. society, but that doesn't seem to be happening so far. We could reduce oil consumption, improve the environment and get better use out of our highway investment with a couple of simple steps, but we cannot muster the political consensus or will to implement them.
For one thing, we have long tolerated - make that encouraged - moving too much freight by truck and not enough by rail or water transport.
Moving heavy material with steel wheels on steel rails takes much less fuel per ton-mile than using rubber tires on asphalt or concrete pavement. The numbers vary with specific vehicles and with terrain, but a rough average is that trucks use three times as much fuel to move one ton one mile than do trains.
One study, not funded by either trucking associations or railroads, found that trucks used a range of 1.4 to nine times as much fuel. An Iowa State University study found that trucks transporting grain across relatively flat terrain used seven times as much fuel per ton-mile. Water transport goes one step further. It is more fuel efficient than rail, but slower and less convenient. >>>>

http://www.idahostatesman.com/busine...ry/221762.html

Bayle · **^ Top** #2 11.27.2007

Somewhat true, but we have enough problems keeping up with the roads and bridges infrastrucure as it is. If they wanted to move all that much more freight by rail, which help out, they would need to build more rails, and a better rail system. The trains are already clogged up, which is one reason why trucks are still used so much more.

raindancer · **^ Top** #3 11.27.2007

Hell we're already taxed to death as it is. Even if the tax is raised do you really believe it will go to roads? We're already seeing cities wanting to use higher road money for unversities. Give me a break.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Trucker Forum	Replies	Last Post
'unfairly' taxed in US	Cybergal	Canadian Truckers Forum	2	07.11.2008 08.28 AM
The Cost of Trucking	Cybergal	Truckers News	1	07.09.2008 09.18 PM
What the trucking industry doesn't need is another tax	Cybergal	Canadian Truckers Forum	0	06.04.2008 08.52 AM
An Honest Study on the True Cost of Immigration-Finally	Big Duker	Politics	0	04.10.2008 12.57 AM
the trucking industry, a dying industry?	cat c-15	Trucking Jobs	1	11.13.2007 08.00 PM

Truckers' Trucking Forum/Message Board - The Premiere Truck Driver Forum

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)