WASHINGTON – U.S. commercial truck dealers and dealer association executives from 31 states attended nearly 100 meetings on Capitol Hill last week, urging their members of Congress to cosponsor bipartisan legislation to repeal the 12% federal excise tax (FET) on the sale of heavy-duty trucks and trailers.
The American Truck Dealers (ATD) and the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) both hosted legislative fly-ins, held in conjunction with Modernize the Truck Fleet Week (June 17-21).
The week’s events included briefings, digital advocacy outreach and a Capitol Hill rally to increase support for legislation, (H.R. 2381/S. 1839, the “Modern, Clean and Safe Trucks Act of 2019”), to repeal the FET. The ATD board also met with White House officials to discuss FET repeal.
The Modernize the Truck Fleet coalition includes ATD, TRALA, NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry, Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, National Trailer Dealers Association and National Tank Truck Carriers Association. To learn more about the coalition and FET repeal, click here. Here are some photo highlights from ATD's fly-in and Modernize the Truck Fleet Week:
As part of ATD’s fly-In, dealers attended Capitol Hill meetings on June 19-20 in support of legislation (H.R. 2381/S. 1839) that would repeal the FET on heavy-duty trucks and trailers. (L to R): Trey Mytty, 2019 Truck Dealer of the Year, meets with U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.). ♦ Will Green, president of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association (LADA), Brian Bruckner, president of Bruckner Truck Sales, Keith Rutherford, president of Eagle Truck Center, and ATD Chairwoman Jodie Teuton meet with U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-La.). ♦ U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) meets with Pete McNamara, president of the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association.
The Modernize the Truck Fleet coalition held a rally near the U.S. Capitol on June 19 to support legislation (H.R. 2381/S. 1839) repealing the FET. (L to R): ATD Chairwoman Jodie Teuton delivers remarks. ♦ MTF coalition members along with U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) stand in front of a World War I-era truck on display at the press conference. ♦ U.S. Reps. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) and LaMalfa speak at the rally.
Truck dealers and dealer association executives from 31 states attended nearly 100 meetings with members of Congress on Capitol Hill. (L to R): U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) meets with Tim Matheny, president of Matheny Motor Truck Company. ♦ Brian Bruckner, president of Bruckner Truck Sales, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), and Kate McGrath, director of legislative affairs, and Rob Braziel, CEO of legislative affairs, from the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, discuss FET repeal. ♦ U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) meets with Steve Bassett, ATD vice chairman and dealer principal of General Truck Sales.
ATD's fly-in was held in conjunction with Modernize the Truck Fleet Week. (L to R): U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) speaks at ATD’s board meeting. ♦ U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) (center) hosts Keith Rutherford, president of Eagle Truck Center, ATD Chairwoman Jodie Teuton, Brian Bruckner, president of Bruckner Truck Sales, and Will Green, LADA president, on Capitol Hill. ♦ U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) meets with Jon Pritchett, president of Nextran.
H.R. 2381/S. 1839 would 'modernize the truck fleet' by encouraging the deployment of the newest heavy-duty trucks and trailers. (L to R): U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) meets with Terry Dotson, president of Worldwide Equipment. ♦ U.S. Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.) speaks with ATD Vice Chairman Steve Bassett. ♦ Trey Mytty, president and CEO of Truck Center Companies, meets with U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).
For more information, visit nada.org/ATDLegislative.
