Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives recently introduced legislation aimed at repealing the 12% federal excise tax on certain heavy-duty trucks, tractors and trailers.
Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) led a bipartisan effort April 29 to unveil the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2019, which would repeal the tax.
The lawmakers emphasized in an announcement accompanying the legislation that, on average, the World War I-era federal excise tax could potentially add $12,000 to $22,000 to the sale of a new truck. Also, heavy-duty trucks on the roadways are nearly 10 years old.
