The Northeast is already known by truckers for its high cost of operation, but it looks like it could get a bit more expensive still. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s new budget proposes raising $90 million a year off of mileage-based fees for truckers.
Gov. Lamont has been trying to find a way to fund the repair and maintenance of Connecticut’s aging infrastructure for years. Until recently, the idea has been to implement new tolls. Lamont proposed a tolling program which would bring in $1 billion a year. When tolling everyone proved too unpopular, Lamont decided to try tolling just truckers. But amidst questions of its legality, that too failed to get the support it needed.
Now, Lamont is lowering his funding goals down from the billions of dollars. His latest budget uses a highway usage fee only on large trucks. It is estimated to raise around $90 million a year. Class 6 through 13 trucks would be charged between 2 and 17.5 cents per mile.
This fee would be placed only on local Connecticut trucks and would not apply to out-of-state drivers. This will likely get around the legal issues that comes with potentially violating the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution which prohibits any bars on interstate commerce.
Luis Mario Garcia says
Taxing truckers to make up for
bad economic planning is
actually counter productive.
The North East States need to
return to their conservative
Christian founding.
William says
Keep it up, New England states, and son you’ll be trekking a few hundred miles in your own vehicles to go get your groceries, because no trucker will accept the loads going through your area for all the sh*t you all put us through.
If you need infrastructure, then start holding your state legislatures and representatives **that YOU ELECTED** to account for wasting all the tax dollars that were reserved for that function on stupid pet projects and vote buying schemes!!
Joshua says
Dude, read the rest of the article. It says that this would not apply to out-of-state drivers and would only apply to local Connecticut trucks.
Craig says
Joshua DUDE – how is that any better “It says that this would not apply to out-of-state drivers and would only apply to local Connecticut trucks.”
Joe Mcfly says
Exactly!!
Sean Lyman says
Testify!!
KENT says
Wow! That about covers it all. I agree completely.
Mike Bowen says
I don’t even run the northeast anymore. The tolls are ridiculous and the loads don’t pay more for running there. Keep it up and you’ll be buying everything from Ohio!
slowness says
Lol. Distribution centers will just shutter, move to nearby state and all local Connecticut trucking will magically become regional. Tax income drops, more miles driven, roads get worse.
Jeff says
Who goes to Connecticut anyways?
Let them tax themselves all they want
Kenny says
Good he noticed that clause cause I guarantee no trucker in their right mind would even think of deliver anything to his state.
Slammer says
All truckers quit delivering to these over regulated state’s and they may wake up. When they stop receiving commerce then they may think twice about over taxing the ones supplying America. 🇺🇸
Randy Harrington says
It will jig get past the interstate commerce clause as commerce is the per-view of the federal gov even if it remains in state . To allow this would invite each state to just follow suit basically an end run around the constitution bc if one state has the right every state does .
Matthew Eitzman says
No one cares about what I have to say.
MKG says
I care. Call me @ 867-5309😊