Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, MO 64029
Web site: www.ooida.com
Contact: Norita Taylor, norita_taylor@ooida.com
Headquarters: (800) 444-5791
Real reform needed before truckers pay more
(Grain Valley, MO, Jan. 15, 2008) – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) reviewed the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission Report today, concluding that much more is still needed in reforming the way money from the Highway Trust Fund is used, rather than raising fuel taxes or adding tolls to existing interstates. The commission report recommended such raises, as well as changing laws to make it easier to toll new and existing interstates.
“They need to show us the money,” says Todd Spencer, executive vice president. “Where it’s going, how it is being used, what are our true national needs, how the system is going to be cleaned up top to bottom, and then we’ll talk about paying more.”
“Truckers pay enormous sums into the Highway Trust Fund, contributing as much as 36 percent of it, and deserve better than just ‘a new beginning’ - which really just means paying even more money.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more 159,000 members nationwide, with more than 4,600 members in New Jersey. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, MO, area.