In NAFA’s FLEETSolutions Magazine, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves outlines how Fleets will benefit from “Vehicle Miles Traveled” proposal
House Transportation Subcommittee Chair Tells How Scrapping Federal Fuel Taxes Will Benefit Road Infrastructure
(PRINCETON, N.J. – August 20, 2018) – NAFA Fleet Management Association, the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership organization, presents a one-on-one conversation in its September 2018 issue of FLEETSolutionsmagazine with Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Graves is a proponent of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), a funding mechanism that charges drivers according to how many miles the vehicle has traveled, as opposed to current point-of-purchase fuel taxes. His proposal intends to provide financial stability for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).
Various VMT pilot programs taking place across the country are gathering valuable data about the concept and learning what will work and what might not. “Oregon and Washington are leading the country in that,” Graves said. “Those programs will play an integral part in the proposal we come up with.”
When asked how VMT might be more effective than the present gas tax model, Graves said, “We have a lot of vehicles on the road that are simply not paying into the use of those roads. We’re a gas/diesel-tax based system. If you’re not using gas or diesel, you’re not paying into the use of that road.” Graves added, “(VMT is) a very equitable system.”
The Congressman believes fleets will benefit from the creation of long-term, sustainable, and predictable funding for the infrastructure and bipartisan supports is in place to move legislation forward. Further, says Graves, “a solvent HTF would pay to repair crumbling roads and bridges which have a direct impact on fleet and vehicle functionality.”
NAFA is the only large fleet association with a presence in DC and Ottawa, advocating for the regulatory solutions that benefit the fleet industry. For more information on how NAFA’s advocacy benefits its membership, visit https://www.nafa.org/Resource-Center/Safety-Advocacy/Legislative-Resources.aspx
Along with the conversation with Rep. Graves, FLEETSolutions’ September/October issue also includes:
- Hard-to-stop bad habits among fleet drivers
- A deep-dive into motor vehicle records
- The physics of fuel safety
- Getting employee buy-in for fleet changes
- Plus, much more coverage about the fleet industry
FLEETSolutions is developed to engage readership in the eight primary disciplines of fleet: Asset Management, Business Management, Financial Management, Fleet Information Management, Maintenance Management, Risk Management, Vehicle Fuel Management, and Professional Development. FLEETSolutions provides survey results on the most important topics in the fleet profession; the National Safety Council “Safety First” column, found in each issue; and profiles of the best and brightest in fleet management. A subscription to FLEETSolutions is a benefit of NAFA membership.
About NAFA Fleet Management Association
NAFA Fleet Management Association is the trade organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements and vehicle fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes; and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA’s members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.6 million vehicles that drive an estimated 50 billion miles each year. NAFA’s members control assets and services well in excess of $100 billion each year.
For more information, please visit www.nafa.org, and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
