Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont played fast and loose with industry leaders over proposals about a statewide “truck only” tolling system.
When pressed by organizations such as the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the New England Democrat indicated he did not favor imposing tolls on hard-working truckers. Back in February, 2020, ATA president Chris Spear was encouraged.
“It appears the governor of Connecticut has accepted the same fact that other policymakers across the country have come to realize: The trucking industry isn’t a convenient bailout for politicians unwilling to do the hard work of responsibly and fairly funding infrastructure,” Spear reportedly stated in 2020. “Targeting a tiny sliver of road users, and an industry that is the central link in the economy’s supply chain is not a serious nor sustainable strategy.”
But after Connecticut’s general assembly passed highway user tax (HUT) measure HB 6688, Lamont got behind it. The state’s truck-only tolls are set to drop in 2023, and they could escalate to among the most expensive. Expectations are they will siphon off $45 million from CDL professionals in 2023 and top $90 million every year after.
That’s largely because the HUT law creates a per-mile tax rate linked to gross weight. The truck-only tolls start at 2.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing 26,000-28,000 pounds and gear up to 17.5 cents per mile for those over 80,000 pounds. Connecticut has effectively set the trucking industry on a slippery slope that allows it to reach into freight carrier and owner-operator pockets anytime they want more money.
“It doesn’t require a Ph.D. in economics to understand that when the cost of truck transportation goes up, the price of what’s being hauled does, too,” Spear reportedly said after the governor’s reversal. “Everyday consumers and the working people of Connecticut will feel the sting of Lamont’s truck tax with each purchase of groceries, gasoline, prescription drugs, construction materials, home furnishings, household goods, and so on.”
The measure passed along party lines, with Democrats holding both chambers and the governor’s office. Republicans objected to the truck-only tolls, citing its impact on the cost of fuel, consumer goods, materials, and inflation.
“I don’t think any of us has gone to fill our car up with gas or gone to the supermarket and not been shocked about how prices have increased,” Rep. Holly Cheeseman reportedly said. “This is exactly the kind of move that will only add to that inflation. During a time when we’re recovering from our pandemic, and so many of our residents continue to struggle with paying their bills, this is ill-timed and ill-advised.”
But Connecticut follows the lead of its New England neighbor Rhode Island. Before former Gov. Gina Raimondo shuffled off to Washington, D.C., to serve as Pres. Joe Biden’s commerce secretary, the Democrat majority state legislature and governor picked truckers’ pockets as well. This neighbor-state trend has many wondering whether other states will also punish hard-working truckers for their state’s fiscal mismanagement woes.
Recently appointed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has proposed both increasing the fuel tax and imposing a national mileage tax. Both wrong-headed measures would unfairly impact freight carriers and independent truckers.
Sources: ccjdigital.com, baltimoresun.com, ctmirror.org
I just don’t go to Connecticut. Plain and simple! No trucks no goods. When some fat politicians wife can’t get what she wants, things will change.
Agreed, how about all O/O stop going to or through CT and RI….. see how fast they change their minds when there is no toilet paper.
That sounds like a good plan but until the larger trucking companies ( JB HUNT, WALMART,SWIFT, ENGLAND AND SO ON!!!!!) Stand up to these radical laws being imposed on the industry nothing will change because they want to get rid of o/o altogether, just my opinion stay safe out there drivers and God bless you all.
I don’t think they are trying to get rid of O/O. I think they see a way to get money from a necessity. It would be hard not to pay their toll if we want to feed and cloth people. Sadly, if they piss enough drivers and companies off, people may have to drive their cars hundreds of miles just to get day to day supplies. Whats worst, is that may be exactly what it will take to open their eyes. I have family living in Maine, i.e. Mom, sister etc. I try to get a load to go there a couple of times a year. With the toll crap coming, I won’t be able to do that anymore.
I get their state needs money. What they need then that, senses: Common sense and a sense of decency. Don’t screw over the people of your state just to make a buck!
🤣🤣🤣
If truckers was united, general people, assossiations and governments would respect and care for our industry, no one respect truck and truckers, we are the worse professionals on they view, no care, no respect, no pay, no benefit, just overcharged for everything, and prejudiced, discriminated, and bullied, profession, honestly drivers should strike, but no one mister jimmy hoffa( the old man) balls to face those hypocrites
Specially truck drivers… leaches who exploit one another, disrespect one another, hurt one another, but keep on crying for a underpaid freight.
agreed, it is out of hand, it is the reason I won’t go to NYC. But I can tell you I haul a lot into New England. It was 4.00/ mile before covid. It’s around 6.00/ mile or more now. I can see it going to 8.00/ or more after this goes into effect, if they want the goods I haul. I’ll take your money Ned Lamonte. keep making great legislation that cost your people money
I’m at $6 + per mile hauling dry freight from NV to the Pacific Northwest, if I had to haul in the Northeast I’d expect no less than $8.
Completely agree! thats taking a stand, instead of complaining and going along with the political bad decisions. And the segregation of Democratic and Republican is BS, we the people need to take a stand and unite
As soon as the tax starts no more Connecticut. It’ll be interesting as businesses in Connecticut start to fold because they can’t get product anymore
Very effective!!!
Again? Do you wonder why all and i say ALL, major companies left CT, and new england states? Because state and city officials are so corrupted ,and they unions are the worse, that state taxes everyone to the bone… no wonder why up here everything is at.least 25% more expensive.
Ct has always hated trucks , as an O/O I moved out of that state 30 years ago. Boycott Ct , don’t take any load that goes there or thru there.
Exactly
CT doesnt hate truckers, just exploit us, and its citizens, even truckers, and box truckers are really selfish, rude,bullies, as they troopers are. CT is a broken corrupted state, everything here is over priced,over taxed, and no one has done anything about, it.
How about a surcharge for twice the tax baked in the rate for going into RI and CT. Refusing to go there is valid to a point, except when necessary for another destination. These people fail to realize it leads to increased costs for everyone in those states over time also, they really don’t care.
Those states need to feel the full effect of what truckers do for them, the idiots who voted for democrats, and the politicians who imposed laws that clearly target truckers, the single most important link in the logistics chain. Problem is you cannot get ALL the companies and drivers to do it together, and if they don’t ALL do it together, it’s wasted efforts.
yup, those type of people are the complainers, winers and followers in this world.
It’s all BS, there will never be enough money because ALL these politicians on BOTH sides dont give a crap about the blue collar worker, they say they “DO” but no action. We need fresh blood with new ideas. out with these career politicians.
agree! this country needs a political enema
Bypass CT all together. Take route 90. I unfortunately go through CT daily with a truck. It it the WORST state in the northeast to drive through. I take Thruway if I can. CT infrastructure is the worst designed piece of crap road system I’ve ever driven, and the 4 wheelers don’t make it any easier
then dont drive thru it.
You got it drivers. Start taking a stand. See how they do.with only drivers from there take them their goods. My spine is ruined,so i had to take early retirement.not that i had any retirement. But, i keep track of what you drivers are getting hit with. If you dont start hitting back. Youll never gain anything.
Exactly, simple logic, common sense!
Pa will follow suit. We have a toatl moron for a governor. We can thank Philly and Pittsburgh for him.
I remember quite a few years ago when some d-bag named Dukakis said truckers weren’t as all fired important as we thought we were. At the time he was a “front runner” for the nomination of Presidential candidate.
After we blockaded and shut down Massachusetts for a week he was singing a different tune. He never did get the nomination either.
Just sayin’.
Truth🙏🏻
The results will be the same as they always are; lawmakers come up with stupid laws, the trucking industry whines and cries and talks crap on social media, the law is passed, there’s more whining and crying from the trucking industry until the next stupid law is proposed and then the cycle starts all over again. It’s like watching the world’s most boring “B” rated movie over and over again when you know the ending will never change.
It always strikes me as funny when the trucking industry over in Europe feels they are being wronged, they actually do something about it and get results, but here? Nope. We just get on social media and the CB and start throwing a bunch of words around like monkeys flinging their feces at anybody and everybody.
For once, do something about it! Change the ending of that “B” rated movie before we all die of boredom!
😂 Right
Americans don’t know what the socialist agenda is. Unfortunately this has been done in other countries but who knows what is going on around the world? Not Americans…
They will sink this country so you have to rely solely on the government and they control everyone.
Keep voting democrats
This shouldn’t surprise anyone, but there is a simple solution…STOP GOING TO STATES THAT UNFAIRLY TARGET THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY. Now, granted, this may impact the citizens unfairly as well. The fuel expenses for a truck are far and above higher to transport goods than they are for the daily commuter (10 mpg vs. 40 mpg).
If you want to see this B.S. come to a halt, refuse all loads going to any state that feels the trucks should pay and the cars don’t. Let the P.O.S. government deliver the food, building materials, medicine, cars and trucks, clothing, bottled water, beer and whiskey. It’s already a losing proposition to enter most states in the NE as most of these loads barely pay for expenses, lack of parking and traffic issues. Come to a screeching all all inbound, thru or outbound loads from now and until summer. Let’s just see how well this government does when fuel oil for heating drives up, when goods rot in warehouses bound for other states, when hospitals, bars, restaurants and churches can no longer function.
In other words PISS ON THEM.
Maybe you should do a little research, that includes looking at the mileage taxes already imposed in states like Republican Stronghold, Kentucky.
The fuel tax that funds the Highway Trust Fund needs to be increased for both gasoline users and diesel users. Raise it by a dime for gasoline and a quarter for diesel. Also states need to quit cutting corners on interstate construction like Huckabee allowed in Arkansas.
You complain about CT and RI, but what about Florida and Texas building more toll roads and forcing trucks to utilize them?
Quit Cherry Picking! Pull up your lumberjack panties and start working the whole forrest!
Please watch this video about upcoming shutdown. https://youtu.be/IKfy1k6MDKc
Democrats are BAD for business. How bout boycotting Delaware too w dipshit in office
The answer is for all Owner Operators and Carriers to NOT accept loads for less than $2.50+ a mile.
The idiocy in this industry is alarming.
Its not only the monthly overhead, taxes, etc you have to account for maintenance and replacement costs.
If States like Connecticut, Oregon, New Mexico, New York, etc are violating the Constitution by not treating apportioned Carriers equally, add that to your rate.
You must charge the shipper, receiver, broker, etc.
Its not your tax, you must earn it forward.
We all are competing but taking loads that basically pay for diesel, screws up lanes and screws you by setting low lane rates.
If we collaborated, we could raise rates on low paying lanes in less than a week.