ATA: 'Climate laws will hurt trucking, consumers'

July 20, 2009

Climate change legislation will impose significant costs on both the American trucking industry and American consumers, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) recently told the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Ray Kuntz, chairman of the ATA's executive committee, said that "any substantial cost increases imposed directly or indirectly on trucks by climate change legislation will curtail the delivery of vital consumer goods across the nation such as food, medicine and clothing."

According to ATA research, a one cent increase in the average price of diesel costs the trucking industry an additional $390 million in fuel expenses. "Petroleum suppliers indicate that climate change legislation could increase the cost of gasoline by 77 cents per gallon and 88 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. As trucking companies struggle with already miniscule margins, additional costs for fuel would be passed on to shippers of goods and materials, and ultimately, to consumers."