Alone on the Open Road: Truckers Feel Like ‘Throwaway People’

Re:Alone on the Open Road: Truckers Feel Like ‘Throwaway Peo... by ashark on Monday May 22, 2017 @06:28PM (#14397386)

Trucks do disproportionately more damage do the roads than they pay in taxes for fuel, though. You're subsidizing trucking every time you fuel up your passenger vehicle.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Alone on the Open Road: Truckers Feel Like ‘Throwaway Peo... by hansthehorse on Monday May 22, 2017 @07:24PM (#14397655)

This is the reason, at the federal level, diesel fuel is taxed more than gasoline. Diesel = 24.4c/gal and Gas = 18.4c/gal.

The difference isn't enough to compensate for the increased wear but there is a difference.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Alone on the Open Road: Truckers Feel Like ‘Throwaway Peo... by Voyage_wanderer on Monday May 22, 2017 @07:43PM (#14397731)

Are you sure? Truck burns 6 miles/ gallon. New EPA regulations in 21 century actually increased fuel consumptions since about 20% of engine's power goes to cleaning the air. Modern car use 30+Miles/gallon.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Alone on the Open Road: Truckers Feel Like ‘Throwaway Peo... by ashark on Tuesday May 23, 2017 @09:05AM (#14400788)

Road wear isn't linear with weight. Estimates I've seen put a heavy 18-wheeler at the equivalent of more than 9,000 cars traveling over the same stretch of road. Way, way more than 5x the damage (6mpg vs 30mpg).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Alone on the Open Road: Truckers Feel Like ‘Throwaway Peo... by ProfessorLayton on Monday May 22, 2017 @06:48PM (#14397492)

This subsidy is going to take an interesting turn with vehicle electrification. Right now the lower the MPG, the more taxes you pay. Moving to a tax per miles driven is going to punish those that have the most efficient vehicles in a more upfront manner than it is today (Hidden in gasoline prices).

[ Parent | on HN ]