October 15, 2007 8:30 AM, EDT

Bill Would Provide Credit for Safety Technology

A bill introduced last week by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) would provide tax credits for fleets purchasing trucks with certain types of safety technology.

The bill, proposed by Thompson with seven co-sponsors on Wednesday, would provide a credit for four types of technology, said Steve Keppler, director of policy and programs for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance: brake monitoring, lane-departure warning, collision warning and vehicle stability systems.

Keppler said fleets could get a 50% tax credit on the cost of the system, capped at $1,500 per system, $3,500 per vehicle and $350,000 per fleet per year. The bill drew immediate praise from manufacturing groups.

“We believe that tax credits will accelerate the availability of important safety-enhancing technologies to heavy-vehicle operators and fleets,” said Ann Wilson, vice president of government affairs for the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association.