Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/127433
Logbook Lawmakers eye fuel taxes for highway funding Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com State lawmakers in the Northeast continue to consider fuel taxes for additional transportation project funding. New Hampshire House members approved a measure that would increase the state fuel tax by 12 cents per gallon. The hike would be implemented over six years for diesel and three years for gasoline. Various groups have held signature drives for petitions against the plan, including the Vermont Petroleum and Grocers Associations, which had gathered 20,000 signatures from state residents against the hike by April 10. Massachusetts' Senate was set to continue debating its transportation bill April 13 after the House approved its version April 8. Both proposals would raise the state gas tax 3 cents a gallon. Gov. Deval Patrick said neither proposal meets the "immediate or long-term needs of the Commonwealth." Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to sign a transportation bill that includes implementation of a new series of motor fuel taxes. The state sales tax rate on motor fuels will start at 1 percent this July. In 2015, it will increase to 2 percent in January and 3 percent that July. If Congress passes legislation permitting states to collect sales tax from Internet purchases, the sales tax will stay at 3 percent. However, if Congress does not approve this measure, the motor fuel tax will increase during 2016 to 4 percent in January and 5 percent that July. — Jill Dunn Carlson Logistics_TN0712_PG048.indd 1 8/8/12 9:41 AM As part of what the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office is calling a "sophisticated moneywiring scheme," 28 people have been charged in a 97-count indictment for stealing $1.7 million from U.S. trucking companies. ICE – a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – investigated the issue for two years. The 97 counts include charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. The scheme occurred from February 2011 to November 2012 by using electronic fund processing companies – like Fleet One, Comdata and TCH – that transfer funds from trucking companies to drivers. The defendants obtained account numbers and codes used by the companies to transfer money and would visit truck stops in Ohio and elsewhere, pose as drivers, present the information and get the checks, which they would endorse and cash at the truck stop. They then laundered the money overseas and back to the United States, ICE said. — James Jaillet Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com Busted scam stole from carriers May 2013 | Overdrive | 79 H&M_Bay_OVD0213_PG.indd 1 Logbook_0513.indd 79 4/1/13 1:43 PM 4/30/13 10:03 PM