Trucking Association Opposes FREIGHT Act

Legislation calling for a national freight transportation policy would short-change the nation’s highways, the American Trucking Associations said.

In a statement, the ATA said FREIGHT Act bills introduced in the Senate and House last month wouldn’t remedy what it sees as a growing infrastructure crisis.

“The highway reauthorization bill is almost a full year past due, and federal aid funding for highways is on the verge of collapse,” the association said.

“We need to enact a responsible, comprehensive reauthorization bill,” the ATA said.

The Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation Act of 2010 calls for a national strategic freight transportation plan.

The House and Senate bills, which are identical, would establish an Office of Freight Planning within the Office of the Secretary in the Department of Transportation.

The bills would also create a permanent, competitive discretionary grant program that its backers say would fund port, intermodal, rail and highway projects.

The ATA said little of that grant money would go to highways and bridges.

“Highways, which carry more than 68 percent of the nation’s freight, would not be eligible for funding beyond very limited connectors to freight terminals.”

The FREIGHT Act pits the trucking group against rail, intermodal and port organizations, as well as environmental groups and trade corridor advocates.

The legislation isn’t anti-truck, Leslie Blakey, executive director of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, said at a July 22 press conference.

“The intent is to make the system work better across the board,” Blakey said.

Its multimodal focus has truckers concerned that attention and resources will be shifted away from Interstate highways and the ailing Highway Trust Fund.

“ATA is committed to working with Congress to improve our freight system within a process that does not favor one mode over another,” the association said.

-- Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com.