SC&RA Part of Group Urging Congress to Suspend Excise Tax on Heavy-Duty Trucks

May 5, 2020 - The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association has signed a letter to congressional leaders urging Congress to suspend the 12% federal excise tax on new heavy-duty trucks and trailers through 2021.

SC&RA is one of 117 organizations asking Congress to suspend the FET in the next coronavirus economic recovery legislation.

Trucking industry leaders support suspending the FET because weakened demand for trucks, compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, is expected to suppress U.S. truck sales by 50% this year.

In March, alone, Class 8 truck orders dropped by 52%, compared to last year. The decline in sales is due partly to closures of truck factories and dealerships, some government ordered.

Heavy-duty trucks and trailers used in North America are nearly all made here, and they are designed, tested, and assembled across the U.S. Suspension of the FET would help save manufacturing, dealer, and supplier jobs for this important domestic industry.

The letter cites additional environmental and safety benefits of stimulating heavy-duty truck and trailer sales, most of which are used to transport essential products across the country.

“SC&RA supports the FET suspension to help encourage sales of newer, safer, and cleaner trucks and trailers, and perhaps more importantly in the immediate term, to help support the jobs of millions of Americans employed in trucking,” said Joel Dandrea, SC&RA CEO. “Our industry, like many others has been severely impacted by the Coronavirus. A controlled tax holiday to help an industry so essential to keeping America moving makes total sense. The trucking industry is working through challenging times and we are urging Congress to take swift action to assist in our recovery.”

The full text of the letter and list of signatories can be found here.