As an update to reports released in 2008 and 2011, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is once again publishing An analysis of the operational costs of trucking. This research was initially identified as a priority by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) in 2008 due to the increasing interest from policy makers in creative transportation funding strategies. Due to fiscal constraints in recent years, transportation policy makers have turned to creative financing strategies in an attempt to find new infrastructure funding sources. As part of the cost-benefit analyses for various funding proposals, different trucking industry operational cost assumptions have been promulgated. Depending on the agency or political objective, at times it has been advantageous for agencies to minimize the cost associated with truck operations and travel delays. At other times, unreasonably high cost figures or nebulous 'value of time' calculations have been used to justify tolls and other creative financing fees. The trucking industry, which is heavily reliant on the 4 million miles of roadway in the U.S., has a vested interest in equitable funding and maintenance of the transportation system. In order for new funding proposals to be properly vetted, it is important that the underlying inputs to a particular policy analysis are accurate. (Author/publisher)
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