Judge Kills Idaho Ton-Mile Tax Breaks

An Idaho judge declared the state's weight-distance tax unconstitutional, a decision out-of-state truckers hope will eventually lead to the abolition of the tax system altogether.

District Court Judge Michael McLaughlin in Ada ruled Feb. 21 that the state's tax system violated the Constitution's Commerce Clause because it unfairly gives a break to truckers hauling certain commodities such as logs, sand and gravel and minerals.

American Trucking Associations argued Idaho's weight-distance tax discriminated against interstate commerce because fewer than 7% of out-of-state carriers were able to take advantage of the reduced fees offered to the special commodity haulers.

McLaughlin dismissed state arguments that the special commodity haulers did less damage to the roads and so deserved a tax break.

The court ordered Idaho to collect fees from all carriers using the same rate starting March 1.

Paul W. Sudmeier, president of the Idaho Motor Transport Association, said he hopes that the ruling will spur truckers who used to get the exemptions to fight for a repeal of the tax system.

The association plans to push legislation that would replace the state's weight-distance tax with higher registration fees.

The trucking industry has fought at the state level to get rid of weight-distance taxes throughout the nation, arguing that they create burdensome paperwork for both the state and truckers and are easily evaded.