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They also require more gas per mile. It seems like it should roughly add up to paying a few more times than cars (they're a few times less fuel efficient).
by xvedejas 8y ago
They also require more gas per mile. It seems like it should roughly add up to paying a few more times than cars (they're a few times less fuel efficient).
- mikeash 8y agoYes, the average car in the US gets about 25MPG, while the average tractor trailer is 6MPG, so about 4x the fuel per mile. Accounting for the higher tax rate, they’re paying maybe 5x the tax per mile, while causing maybe 5,000x the damage.
- foepys 8y agoYou could tax trucks like 1000 times more. But don't expect the butter and milk to stay the same price.
- andys627 8y agoButter and milk that don't have to travel as far by road would be cheaper. So much of our national Walmartification is possible because of roads are subsidized.
- TomMarius 8y agoNo, it would not be cheaper. It is not cheaper today and making food today is profitable (and possible) only thanks to economy of scale. Automation on this level is not here yet. > don't have to travel as far by road It doesn't have to. It can (and it does because it's better).
- bredren 8y agoThe point may be that they should not be this price to begin with.
- lordnacho 8y agoExternalities that aren't properly accounted for (and paid for) end up causing inefficiency.
- Dylan16807 8y agoThe milk would cost more, but we'd save even more money on road maintenance. Then many trucks could be adjusted to have more axles and lighter loads, saving money on both ends. The end result is a better system.
- kiba 8y agoMaybe eventually the cost will go down for milk because we chosen more efficient ways of transporting milk?
- imtringued 8y agoIs this some kind of joke? If the taxes already cover 25% of the expenses then adding 1000x on top means you would tax 249 times more than you need. To make it fair you first have to give truck fuel an adequate tax (so it covers 100%) and then divide this tax by 1000 for light vehicles.
- Dylan16807 8y agoIf you think it's a joke you're taking the words far too literally. "like 1000 times more" is not a full proposal. Yes you would reduce car taxes appropriately. Yes you would figure out the actual amount to balance the budget.
- JustSomeNobody 8y ago> The milk would cost more, but we'd save even more money on road maintenance. This would adversely affect the poor as they drive less and still need milk.
- mikeash 8y agoThere are much better ways to help the poor than by subsidizing trucking.
- JustSomeNobody 8y agoMy point is you can't just look at something and not take into account where else it may impact. Also, we need to get much better at helping the poor.
- scatters 8y agoThe reduction in sales taxes would more than make up for it.
- SilasX 8y agoWe’re paying for it either way. I’d rather the payment be apportioned by the extent to which you use products that have to be transported that way; it gets the incentives right.