The article conveiently overlooked a few facts regarding " The DEAL " that trucking companies have been receiving :
1) Federal Highway taxes are only a portion of the total tax bill that truckers pay. Let's not forget Federal Excise Taxes on truck tires, engine parts, and tractors and trailers as well.
2) State taxes on diesel fuel. Recall that EwePee just opened a fueling facility in New Mexico, in part to avoid Texas fuel taxes. I find this kinda funny considering New Mexico used to " dip " the fuel tanks on trucks entering & leaving their fine state, in an effort to " encourage " truckers to buy fuel there.
3) State - run Toll Highways and bridges, including many stretches of Interstate Highway that were originally intended to be FREE to all users.
While I agree that truckers have not been paying thier full share of road use taxes, the article does mention that the American Trucking Association is in favor of increasing the Federal tax on diesel fuel; however they are wary of efforts by many other federal AND State agencies to use that tax revenue for non - highway projects. Also remember that the State and Federal regulatory agencies had to approve every increase in both axle and Gross Vehicle Weights. That they did so, despite many early Interstate segments not being built to the new standards, is not the truckers' fault. As well, the new weight limits required trucks to have wider tires and more axles, thereby " Putting More Rubber on the Road ".