Page 36 - ATR 1 2013

needs are changing. For example, many roads and bridges. Since supporting new or increased
regions have seen a spike in truck traf- “There needs to be a strategic effort taxes is suicide for politicians, legisla-
fic in recent years as natural gas and to make sure lights don’t start falling tors are considering user fees.
oil exploration has soared. This likely down,” he said. “There are aging high- The Government Accountability
requires additional maintenance of way signs that are 40 or 50 years old. Office (GAO) recommended creating a
these roads than in the past. Staying on top of the full inventory of pilot program to research mileage fees
“A lack of funding has forced us to assets is critical.” targeted at creating new revenue for the
come up with creative measures, and FHWA’s Stephanos said asset man- Highway Trust Fund, echoing recently
that could potentially lead to risk not agement plans will instruct states to look introduced House legislation that would
seen before,” he said. beyond roads and bridges and to evalu- establish such a program.
In assessing life-cycle costs, ate “the full asset.” That includes lights, The GAO report noted the general
Wlaschin warned of a crisis beyond guardrails and even office buildings. public was resistant to using Global
Positioning Systems to gather mileage
data. Forty-five (45) of the 51 trans-
portation departments for every state
Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 14, No. 3 • June 2009 • $4.95
Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Volume 6, Number 2 • April 2001 • $4.95
and the District of Columbia reported
Tim Hill
privacy concerns would present a great
ShifTing gearS
challenge to developing a mileage fee
program in their state.
Of the state conducted VMT stud-
26,000 use GPS-based systems in future pilot
Death Tax • Size and Weight Laws • Legislative hearing ies, Oregon and Nevada plan to not
Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 15, No. 3 • June 2010 • $4.95 Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 14, No. 6 • December 2009 • $4.95 Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 16, No. 2 • Issue 2 2011 • $4.95
studies because of public perception of
privacy risks.
ReadeRs the American Trucking Associations,
Trucking organizations, including

stRong administration and enforcement.
(VMT) fees as costly for compliance,
Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 13, No. 1 • February 2008 • $4.95 Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 12, No. 2 • April 2007 • $4.95 Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 15, No. 1 • February/March 2010 • $4.95 have criticized vehicle miles traveled
Industry leaders instead have supported
adjusting the fuel tax rate to inflation,
which has not occurred since 1993.
Reliable start-up and administrative
cost estimates to implement a passenger
vehicle mileage fee system are not avail-
Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 15, No. 6 • December 2010 • $4.95 Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 16, No. 3 • Issue 3 2011 • $4.95 Award-Winning Regional Magazine of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 17, No. 2 • Issue 2 2012 • $4.95 Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 15, No. 2 • April 2010 • $4.95
able, the researchers stated. Still, imple-
menting a system to collect fees from
230 million passenger vehicles “is likely
to greatly exceed the costs of collecting
fuel taxes,” the GAO wrote.
If Congress further explores mile-
age fees, it should consider a pilot pro-
Already an award-winning regional magazine, we’re pleased gram to test viability of these fees for
already an award-winning regional magazine, we’re
to announce Arkansas Trucking Report (ATR) now boasts a commercial trucks and electric vehicles,
pleased to announce Arkansas Trucking Report (ATR)
whopping 26,000 readers nationwide and we're still the researchers recommended. Also,
now boasts a whopping 26,000 readers nationwide
growing. That makes ATR a great place for you to advertise. the Federal Highway Administration
and we're still growing. that makes ATR a great place
If you want to reach this highly targeted, influential group of our industry's leading decision-makers and ask should update estimates of road dam-
them to consider purchasing your products or services, then you’ll want to place an ad in every issue of ATR.
for you to advertise.
Contact Jennifer Kidd, publisher, jennifer@matthewspublishing.com to make it happen. ages imposed by vehicle types compared
with the tax revenues generated by each
If you want to reach this highly targeted, influential group of our industry's leading decision- vehicle category.
makers and ask them to consider purchasing your products or services, then you’ll want to
place an ad in every issue of ATR.

Contact Jennifer Kidd, publisher, jennifer@matthewspublishing.com to make it happen.

36 arKanSaS truCKing report | issue 1 2013