key takeaways:
- Nearly 100 truck dealer representatives will gather in Washington today and tomorrow for ATD’s annual Legislative Fly-In to lobby Congress, writes ATD President Kevin Holmes.
- Holmes says the “right to repair” law is unnecessary, increases the cost of FET trucks by 12% and requires federal action against emissions equipment theft.
- ATD plans to protest the extended repair provisions, repeal the FET, and urge passage of the PARTS Act.
Nearly 100 representatives of medium and heavy truck dealers from across the country will gather in Washington June 22-23 for the annual American Truck Dealers Legislative Fly-In.
Attendees will meet with lawmakers to advocate for federal policies that support the trucking industry. ATD’s message to Congress is clear: the trucking industry is the backbone of the American economy, and Congress must reject overly broad “right to repair” laws, repeal outdated federal excise taxes on heavy highway vehicles, and pass anti-theft laws for emissions control devices.
ATD is actively working with respect to the “Right to Repair” law. Advocates of right to repair laws claim that independent repair shops do not have access to the parts or data needed to perform repairs. This is simply not the case; A 2015 memorandum of understanding between major truck manufacturers and aftermarket associations ensures that heavy-duty repair shops have the same access as dealerships. At ATD’s urging, the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently approved a significantly watered-down version of the Right to Repair legislation, which could be added to the highway bill when it is considered by Congress this summer. ATD will oppose efforts to expand the provisions passed by the committee.
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Another top priority is to explain to MLAs why repeal of 12% FET is long pending. First enacted in 1917 to help finance World War I, the FET routinely adds $22,000 or more to the cost of a new heavy-duty diesel truck and $50,000 to the cost of an electric or hydrogen fuel cell truck. This tax acts as a significant barrier to the sale of heavy-duty trucks and delays the purchase of safer, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient trucks. FET repeal would have immediate benefits for the environment by replacing older trucks with cleaner and more fuel-efficient trucks, and would also have a positive impact on highway safety by accelerating fleet turnover.
Another focus route for ATD is Auto Recycling Theft Prevention, or Part, Act (H.R. 5221/S. 2238), which will give law enforcement tools to fight theft of emissions control equipment. Emission control devices, such as diesel particulate filters and diesel oxidation catalysts, use precious metals to reduce toxic emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, and with the price of metals rising sharply during the pandemic, theft has skyrocketed and remains a problem. Stolen equipment is nearly impossible to trace because there are no identification numbers tied to the trucks, which hinders law enforcement efforts. The PART Act establishes a national framework to help law enforcement combat this crime, including requiring new trucks to have unique identification numbers imprinted on emissions control devices at the time of assembly.
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On behalf of the nearly 4,000 new truck dealers and the 150,000 people they employ, ATD is coming to Congress with a united voice for sensible policies that support the American trucking industry.
Trucks are the backbone of this country, and now is the time to come together to shape our future.
Kevin Holmes is its president ATD Board and President & CEO of Shrewsbury, Mass.-based Advantage Truck Group.
