WEIGHT-DISTANCE TAX: A MODERN MOTOR CARRIER INDUSTRY

This issue of the AASHTO Quarterly is largely devoted to an analysis of the issues involved in a federal weight-distance tax, from several prespectives. The lead article by William Druhan, of the AASHTO staff, sets the stage by reviewing the history of highway user taxes, discussing the findings of both the U. S. Department of Transportation's and AASHTO's studies on motor carrier taxation, describing AASHTO's recommendations regarding a weight-distance tax, and examining some of the criticisms that have been directed at the tax. The weight-distance tax issue is then examined by three different sectors of the motor carrier industry, in articles by Jim Johnston, of the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association of America, John L. Reith, of the American Trucking Associations, Inc., and Richard D. Henderson and Richard P. Schweitzer, of the Private Truck Council of America, Inc. The perspective of the American Automobile Association is then provided, in an article by Charles N. Brady. Weight-distance taxes are not a new creation, as Mr. Druhan points out in his article, and several states now either have them or have been considering their implementation. The viewpoints of some of these states are next presented in articles by Juan Martin, Jr. of Arizona, Billy Cooper of Arkansas, George W. Herndon of Florida, and S. Scott Coulter of Oregon. One of the strong advocates in the private sector for a federal weight-distance tax has been the nation's railroads, and the reasons for their position are set forth in an article by L. Lee Lane, of the Association of American Railroads. Finally, in his article, Alan E. Pisarski, a recognized transportation analyst and consultant, examines how other nations in the world have approached the weight-distance taxation of motor carriers. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Publication Date: 1984-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 55 p.
• Serial:
  • AASHTO QUARTERLY
  • Volume: 63
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distance; Federal government; Gross vehicle weight; Highway user taxation; Laws; Motor carriers
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Law; Motor Carriers; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389938
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM