Fuel Price Issues

How to ask lawmakers for their support of OOIDA's fuel surcharge bill

Below is a sample letter that you can use to contact your U.S. members of Congress regarding support for fuel surcharge legislation. Be sure to use the applicable address and insert the name of your representative or senator as appropriate.

For U.S. Representatives use this address:

The Honorable (insert Representative name here)
United States House of Representatives
Washington D.C. 20515

For U.S. Senators use this address:

The Honorable (insert Senator name here)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear (insert your Senator or Representative name here),

As a small business trucker and constituent of yours, I am writing to ask that you cosponsor (insert HR2161 for House bill or S1914 for Senate bill) the Motor Carrier Fuel Cost Equity Act. This bipartisan bill will help me pay for higher fuel costs and keep my small business alive WITHOUT ANY COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

The problem is simple: owner-operator truckers and most motor carriers do not have the market strength to negotiate a higher rate or fuel surcharge when the price of diesel jumps up. Without the ability to pass on higher fuel costs, tens of thousands of independent truckers, have gone out of business. According to an A.G. Edwards analyst, over 200,000 trucks have been repossessed since early 2000, and over 7,000 motor carriers filed for bankruptcy. Nothing short of the security of our nation's transportation system is at stake. Eighty percent of the trucking industry is made up of small business truckers like me, and if we continue go out of business, competition and the reliability of our industry will suffer.

A fuel surcharge is urgently needed before fuel prices go even higher. As history has taught us in the trucking industry, fuel prices rise when there is war and unrest in the middle east. Fuel surcharges are already being used by larger motor carriers such as FedEx and UPS, and many other businesses such as airlines, railroads, taxi cabs, and even hotels to cover their increased energy costs. I need the same tool to keep my business afloat and to continue to support my family.

Thank you for your support during this difficult time. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

(SIGN NAME)

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