Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, MO  64029    
Web site: www.ooida.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Norita Taylor, norita_taylor@ooida.com 
Headquarters: (800) 444-5791

Tolling is taxation x2 for truckers

(Harrisburg, PA, Sept. 24, 2007) – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which represents more than 156,000 small-business truckers, believes tolling Interstate 80 is essentially double taxation, unsafe for other roads and not in the best interest of all highway users in Pennsylvania.

Imagine going to a drive-through restaurant, and after having paid at the first window, the second window’s operator says “Oh by the way, while you were between the first and second windows, we used one third of the money you just spent for something else instead of going toward your order, so we need more money for your food.”

That is essentially what’s proposed by adding tolls to federal highways. At first, taxes are collected through user fees and fuel sales for the Highway Trust Fund, which is intended for roads and bridges. But after large diversions of the money collected go to other, non-highway related projects, you are asked to again pay even more with tolls.

This is just one reason why OOIDA representatives and members stood alongside U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-PA, in speaking out against the tolling of I-80 at the state capitol today.

“Tolling would be an unconscionable burden for small business truckers,” stated Executive Vice President of OOIDA Todd Spencer. “When you factor in that as much as 40 percent of the trust fund goes for things other than highways, you can conclude that trucks pay two thirds of all the money spent on highways and bridges.” Truckers pay taxes other highway users do not, such as user fees and taxes on equipment and tires for their vehicles.

Tolling could also prove to be unsafe as truck drivers choose alternative routes to avoid paying tolls.

“And many indeed will choose to do so, contrary to what toll supporters claim,” added Spencer.

“Truckers have paid for the roads, and they continue to pay for their upkeep. There is no such thing as a free highway,” concluded Spencer.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, MO, area. The Association currently has more than 156,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.

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