Blog Post from American Trucking Associations

Surface Transportation Act Includes Anti-motorist Provisions

June 22, 2009

The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009 (S.1036), introduced by Sens. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), includes "several disturbing anti-motorist and anti-truck provisions," according to the American Highway Users Alliance.

The Alliance, chaired by ATA President and CEO Bill Graves, has identified three provisions that must to be stripped out before highways users should support the legislation. These harmful items include:

1)      The proposal to limit vehicle miles traveled, meaning that drivers would have to reduce the amount they drive or potentially give up their cars. This would also require the federal government to develop intrusive policies in an attempt to alter behavior and personal choice.

2)      A mandate to shift 10 percent of freight from thousands of truck companies on our publicly-owned highway system to the nation's private rail network and its limited number of carriers. The proposed shift is unrealistic and would cause slower product deliveries and exacerbate the already serious problem of shippers being subjected to unnecessarily high railroad shipping rates.

3)      The granting of broad "czar-like" authority to the Secretary of Transportation to implement the previous provisions. This would empower the Secretary to change existing DOT programs, re-write regulations and adjust funding priorities to meet the goals of the bill. These decisions are more appropriately made by Congress and the States.

Click here for more information about this anti-motorist legislation.