IDFA and a large coalition of associations in the food and agriculture sector wrote a letter to U.S. Senate Finance Committee leadership, cautioning the committee against imposing a truck-only vehicle miles tax (VMT) that would place a disproportionate share of the tax burden on freight transportation. 

IDFA vehemently opposes this sort of VMT, as the trucking industry is the most heavily taxed business in the country already. Increased taxes on transportation would lead to increased rates to consumers and decreased competitiveness of U.S. goods abroad.

The coalition letter instead urged the committee to create a legislative package that includes funding supported by all road users. "As the Finance Committee works to advance a surface transportation reauthorization bill, we urge you to include broad-based funding mechanisms to ensure all who benefit from the transportation system contribute fairly to upgrading and maintaining America’s roads and bridges," the coalition wrote.

Read the coalition letter here.