Overdrive

July 2014

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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82 | Overdrive | July 2014 Logbook Southern Pride_OVD0414_PG.indd 1 3/6/14 10:24 AM Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com California soon may test the feasibili- ty of replacing its state fuel excise tax with a vehicle-miles-traveled fee. On June 2, the state assembly's transpor- tation committee received SB 1077 after the Senate approved it by a 23- 11 vote. The measure would require the California Transportation Agency to create a voluntary pilot program by 2016, but the CTA would not be permitted to collect fees. The state's transportation funding is supplied mainly through fuel excise and sales taxes. California requires rev- enue from the base 18-cent- per-gallon fuel excise tax to be used for maintaining and operating the state highway system. Gasoline excise tax revenue from above the base revenue is used mainly for streets, roads and new capacity projects. The state's diesel sales tax is dedicated to supporting transit operations. According to a May 23 California legislative analysis, more than $1 million annu- ally would be needed over two fiscal years to test and implement VMT. In 2007, nearly 300 volun- teers tested Oregon's VMT pilot program at a cost of $3 million. Next year, the state will implement a voluntary program to allow 5,000 vehicle owners to pay a per- mile road charge of 1.5 cents instead of fuel tax. Oregon's annual administrative costs for the program are expected to be $1.4 million annually. – Jill Dunn California considering mileage tax ABSOLUTE WASTE REMOV- AL was ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor to pay a driver $123,203 in back wages and penalties and to reinstate him after the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the carrier violated federal retaliation laws. The driver refused to drive early last year, citing what he called unsafe procedures implemented by Iowa-based Absolute Waste Removal, which subsequently fired him in February 2013. Logbook_0714.indd 82 6/26/14 9:48 PM

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