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Trucking industry pays over $560 million in taxes

DES MOINES — According to data recently released by the American Transportation Research Institute and the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation, the Iowa trucking industry pays over $561 million in Federal and State roadway taxes.

“There should be no doubt that our industry pays its fair share in road taxes,” said said Brenda Neville, President of the Iowa Motor Truck Association. “In fact, we pay more than our fair share. On average, trucks drive 3.8 billion miles on public roads in Iowa and pay 43 percent of all taxes owed by Iowa motorists even though trucks represent only 11% of vehicle miles traveled in the state overall.”

A typical five-axle tractor-trailer pays $7,085 in state highway user fees and taxes + $8,905 in federal highway user fees and taxes. These state and federal taxes are over and above the typical taxes paid by businesses in Iowa.

“This data once again shows that the trucking industry is accepting its responsibility to ensure there are good roads and bridges in this state,” Neville said. “Good roads and bridges are essential to our industry and to every Iowan for that matter.”

Iowa lawmakers passed a gas/fuel tax increase in 2015 and IMTA tried to get an indexing provision added to the legislation at the time. Prior to the 2015 legislation, Iowa had not increased gas/fuel taxes since 1986.

“We take the responsibility of delivering the products that Iowans depend upon very seriously and along with that, we are equally committed to advocating for continued investment in our roads and bridges,” said Jack Sawyer, President of Des Moines Transportation and the current Chairman of the Board of the Iowa Motor Truck Association. “We pay a lot in taxes but we are willing to do so as long as we have good roads and bridges.”

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