Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1002866
16 | Overdrive | July 2018 Logbook A Senate bill would repeal the 12 percent federal excise tax on the sale of heavy-duty trucks and trailers. The tax, originally imposed in 1917 as a 3 percent tax to help pay for the nation's World War I expenses, today adds $12,000 to $22,000 to the price of a new heavy-duty truck. "It is the highest excise tax Congress levies on a percentage basis on any product, including alcohol and tobacco," said Jodie Teuton, chairwoman of the American Truck Dealers and vice president of Kenworth of Louisi- ana and Hino of Baton Rouge. "This burdensome tax," said Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who introduced S. 3052, "creates excessive costs that are passed on to truckers who play an essential role in maintaining our nation's economy." The Senate bill is similar to the Heavy Truck, Tractor and Trailer Retail Federal Excise Tax Repeal Act introduced to the U.S. House a year ago by Rep. Doug LaMal- fa (R-Calif.). H.R. 2946 has 17 bipartisan cosponsors. – Lucas Deal BILL WOULD REPEAL EXCISE TAX ON TRUCK, TRAILER PURCHASES The tax adds $12,000 to $22,000 to the price of a new heavy-duty truck. Prime sued over alleged sexual harassment Prime Inc. has been sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which claims the Springfield, Missouri-based fleet was negligent in preventing the sexu- al harassment of one of its female drivers. A Prime spokesperson said the company does not com- ment on pending litigation. In the lawsuit filed last month, EEOC alleges that Prime violated federal protections against sexual ha- rassment by allowing one of its independent contrac- tors, Eric Weekley, to continue driving with female co-drivers after being accused of sexually harassing a female driver trainee. EEOC says Prime stopped using Weekley as a trainer but still allowed female drivers to work with him as a co-driver. During the six weeks Melinda Huerta drove with Weekley, he "continually talked about sex in graphic and violent terms and told Huerta she would lose her job and CDL if she reported his behavior," EEOC says. "Prime allowed the match but did not warn Huerta about Weekley's past misconduct or warn Weekley that he must not harass Huerta." The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in the West- ern District of Missouri. – Overdrive Staff ROLLING STRONG, a provider of driver wellness programs for trans- portation companies and owner-oper- ators, announced a partnership with Enrollment First to offer insurance benefits to owner-operators and fleets with independent contractors. Through the partnership, Enrollment First customers are enrolled automat- ically in the Rolling Strong health and wellness app. LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS opened new locations in Ellisville, Florida, at Interstate 75, Exit 414; and Statesville, North Carolina, at I-40, Exit 154. Love's also reopened a rebuilt facility in Milan, New Mexico, at I-40, Exit 79. WOODY'S TRUCKING and Donald E. Wood Jr. were found guilty of several charges stemming from a December 2012 explosion at an oil and gas processing facility in Wi- baux, Montana. The incident injured three employees and led to a fire that burned for eight days because authorities were told that the truck was hauling something other than its cargo of drip gas. NAVISTAR ANNOUNCED a recall that potentially could affect 18,665 vehicles of various makes and models involving seatbelt anchor D-ring bolts that could break in a crash. Call Navistar at 800-448-7825. The recall number is 18505.