Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
National Headquarters: 1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, MO 64029
Tel: (816) 229-5791 Fax: (816) 427-4468
Washington Office: 122 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Tel: (202) 347-2007 Fax: (202) 347-2008
For Immediate Release Contact: Norita Taylor
February 9, 2007 (800) 444-5791
New Highway Users Coalition Addresses Privatization in Letter to Secretary
(Washington D.C., Feb. 9) – A coalition of national organizations representing a full range of highway users expressed concerns today about the sale of public highways to private companies in a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters.
“Having these prominent organizations joining the charge against selling off our nation’s highways is an indication of just how opposed the public is to these deals,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice president of OOIDA. “These groups are willing to fight to save the highways that were bought, and continued to be paid for, by the public.”
In response to the recent trend of states seeking to privatize public infrastructure and the U.S. DOT’s aggressive promotion of privatization, Spencer stated, “We recognize elected officials are confronted with difficult funding decisions, but these deals are akin to a pawn-shop mentality of hocking your assets for cash now, but paying much more down the road.
“Rest assured the companies lining up to buy our roads aren’t doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, they see long-term cash flows and guaranteed, healthy profits at the public’s expense.”
In reference to proponents’ contention that privatization will help to alleviate traffic congestion, Spencer said, “The companies investing in our roads want to ‘induce’ congestion on the roads they profit from, not reduce it. Their profits are derived from high traffic volumes and high tolls. Remember, they are accountable to their shareholders, not to the public.
“After America’s motoring public paid federal and state taxes to build these roads, they are being sold to private investors to levy another form of tax increase on the American people.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. Small-business truckers (companies operating six or fewer trucks) comprise close to 90 percent of the motor carrier industry. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo. area. The Association currently has more than 149,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.
The typical OOIDA member will pay, on average, more than $16,000 per truck each year in state and federal highway user fees. Taxes they pay into the federal Highway Trust Fund include a 24.4 cent per gallon federal diesel tax, 12 percent excise taxes on new equipment, an annual Heavy Vehicle Useage Tax, and tire taxes. In addition, truckers must pay state fuel taxes, weight mileage taxes, licensing and registration fees.
To view a copy of the letter sent to Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters by the coalition, click here.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is the national trade association representing the interests of small business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. Small business truckers (companies operating six or fewer trucks) comprise close to 90% of the motor carrier industry. OOIDA represents more trucking companies and more truck drivers than any other association in that industry. The Association currently has over 149,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.