Are no additional fees the best fees of all when it comes to heavy trucks on roads around Madison, WI and elsewhere in the state? It’s now a question that freight haulers, lawmakers, and other transportation experts will have another year to think about.
Wisconsin state lawmakers recently completed a budget that offers what would appear to be good news for the trucking industry. Instead of raising fuel taxes or other transportation revenue sources on the trucking industry, legislators decided to raise fees on hybrid and electric cars and then borrow around $400 million for transportation infrastructure.
The borrowing for road repairs and other transportation spending is far less than other budgets in recent years. It’s also frustrating to some who contend Wisconsin roads and infrastructure are in desperate need of repairs and upgrades.
Some transportation experts also believe that Wisconsin is greatly undercharging for the true cost of the trucking industry and the beating big rigs put on the state’s roads every day. Nationally, Wisconsin is rated as having some of the worst roads and bridges in the country. Even so, lawmakers decided against increasing or creating additional revenue raisers for those who drive and operate tractor-trailers.
A so-called “heavy truck fee” proposal might have offered a solution for overloaded rigs that travel Wisconsin’s roads every day. It’s believed that a single truck weighing 80,000 pounds or more can do as much damage as around 5,000 cars.
The state’s roads and the condition of them will certainly be a factor as companies such as Amazon look to create a new headquarters somewhere in the Midwest. The same concerns will hold as Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn eyes a promise of state incentives if it breaks ground on a multi-billion-dollar manufacturing plant next spring.
Maintaining good roads and bridges is a priority for Bay & Bay Transportation. The Minnesota-based company prides itself on safety and reliability. We utilize late model trucks and offer several hauling options for short and long-range shippers and drivers. There are also competitive medical and benefit plans for our local and longer route drivers across the U.S.
It’s why Bay & Bay is known as a quality driven tradition on roads around Madison, other parts of Wisconsin, and on countless miles of highway nationwide. Call (888) 801-3026, or visit our web page for more details and information about how you can join our growing team.