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Originally Posted by DeepIron
They do this now to truckers in the US. We have to account for every mile we drive in every state we cross and pay the road usage taxes. We also pay extra for turnpikes and expressways we use...
Because people are driving less, the FED and DOT are wondering where the $$$ will come from to pay for the upkeep on the public roads. Truckers already pay hefty fees. It'll only be a matter of time until the 4-wheelers get hit too...
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There's a reason truckers pay more. Most highways and roads aren't built to support the weight of 18-wheelers. Vehicles weighing somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 lbs exert a considerable amount of pressure per square inch of traction surface-area. This, in turn, causes considerable damage to roads.
Logically, that translates into more fees to support the upkeep of said infrastrucutre.
Of course as an employee of, and therefore a proponent of the rail industry, I can say the best thing that ever happened to us was the surge in gas prices. Since companies often cannot afford timely shipping of goods by truck, they are forced to use the competition-starved and therefore inefficient and overly expensive railways.
The only thing that could mess us up was if rail lines were de-regulated in the same way that power was de-regulated in Texas. If anyone could use our rails, we'd have to shape up a bit. Luckily, we have a lot of well-paid lobbyists.
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