This Editorial appears in the June 10 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today. The announcement of the roster of the National Freight Advisory Committee provides a reason to be guardedly optimistic the nation is prepared to make tough decisions regarding our transportation needs.
Of the 47 people named by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, three were trucking executives: Randy Mullett of Con-way Inc., Jack Holmes of UPS Freight and Paul Kelly of the intermodal division of A&S Services Group.
Holmes said he was pleased a diverse group was selected.
“Economic factors, demographic changes and the proliferation of international trade dictate that a broader freight transportation vision, one that includes connecting all modes of transportation . . . as well as a shared responsibility for funding, is now needed,” he said.
Likewise, Mullett spoke of building coalitions and exploring “different solution sets through a wide variety of lenses.” He added: “If we had one group overrepresented versus another, we probably won’t come up with a good solution.”
These comments are refreshing, because there are a few potential red flags.
First is the size of the panel. Could having 47 members prove too difficult to properly coordinate and plan for the issues at hand?
A number of the officials represent groups that have had disagreements with the freight hauling sector over the years — and many of these conflicts still exist today.
It is our hope that everyone will be able to put aside differences on specific issues and remain focused on creating a national freight plan.
Second, in building a consensus, we hope members remember how critical trucking is to the economy.
Trucking carries nearly 70% of all freight but has far less representation on this panel. Without remembering that indisputable fact, there is no way any plan can provide the intended benefits. Third, there is the serious question of whether the recommendations will fall on deaf ears, as has happened in the past.
In January 2008, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission recommended a significant federal fuel-tax increase, as well as higher truck and tire sales taxes and more highway tolls.
At the time, commission member Patrick Quinn, who was co-chairman of U.S. Xpress Enterprises until his death and a former chairman of American Trucking Associations, said the report offered an “unprecedented focus” on freight movements and freight corridors.
While motorists face more tolls today than when that report was issued, there has yet to be any fuel-tax increase or movement on a number of the panel’s other suggestions.
The hard work of that commission deserved far greater attention from Congress. Hopefully, the recommendations made by this commission will have a better fate.
