Highway Act Passed – No Fuel Surcharge

The $286.4 billion highway act signed by President Bush in August contained hundreds of provisions affecting states throughout the country. One thing it did NOT contain, was a mandatory fuel surcharge – a provision that had been loudly objected to by the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), the national association for freight brokers and other 3PLs.

TIA President and CEO Robert Voltmann stated, "Defeating the fuel surcharge provision from the highway bill is an important victory for our members, the entire freight transportation industry, and American commerce.  The fuel surcharge provision would have returned the industry to the dark days of price and tariff regulation.  The fuel surcharge provision would have placed all companies involved in truck transportation under the threat of lawsuits, whether justified or not."

Voltmann went on to remark "TIA members are to be congratulated for their effort to defeat this unwarranted return to re-regulation.” TIA had spearheaded a grass roots campaign among members to   call, write and make personal visits to members of Congress to have the fuel surcharge section omitted.made the difference.”

The highway funding act had a provision for a $25 million pilot project to increase the number of truck parking facilities along the nation's highways. Over four years, $6.25 million is to be allocated to
address the shortage of long-term parking for commercial motor vehicles on the National Highway System. This project is to go into effect on September 30. The secretary of transportation is to establish the pilot project in conjunction with state, regional and local governments to create a variety of parking facilities on the highway system.

The highway act also included more than $2 billion for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to fund a variety of truck safety programs. The agency received $984.5 million in funding for motor-carrier safety grants and $1.15 billion for administrative expenses. The funding is to be spent between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2009.

To access the entire text of the highway bill, go to http://www.house.gov/rules/109textTEALU.htm