MINNESOTA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION

ATA Calls on the Administration and Congress to Address the Fuel Price Crisis

In efforts to address the trucking industry’s concerns about rising fuel prices, the American Trucking Associations is calling upon the Bush Administration to address the fuel price crisis situation and move immediately to take steps to increase the diesel fuel supply.

ATA’s steps include calls for opening the strategic petroleum reserve, supporting increased refining capacity and the environmentally sound exploration of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Outer Continental Shelf.

ATA also has urged the Federal Highway Administration to direct states to change the Federal Highway Administration interpretation of a provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and support a 400-pound weight exemption for auxiliary power units, further encouraging the use of the energy saving devices.

ATA has called upon the Justice Department to make fuel price gouging a federal crime, asked the Environmental Protection Agency to redirect $1 million from the Climate Protection Program to the SmartWay Program and requested the Department of Transportation enact a 65 mph national maximum speed limit.

Furthermore, ATA has asked the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend the collection of the 12 percent federal excise tax on motor carriers purchase of auxiliary power units (APUs), which cut the consumption of fuels in idling truck engines and thereby reduces the industry’s – and the Nation’s – diesel fuel consumption.

The American Trucking Associations is projecting a record high diesel fuel bill in 2008. ATA said the trucking industry will spend $135 billion on fuel in 2008, based on current fuel price forecasts. This marks a $22 billion increase over the $112.6 billion spent by trucking in 2007.

ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said the trucking industry is experiencing the highest prolonged fuel prices in history.

For more information visit: http://www.truckline.com/fuelpricecrisis.

Posted March 24, 2008.