SAN JOSE, Calif. — According to a recent survey by the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University, 58% of respondents to a recent survey said that they would be in favor of mileage fees for delivery and freight trucks.
The 15th annual survey is part of a series that explores public support for raising transportation revenue through higher federal gas taxes or a new mileage fee, according to a news release.
A total of (51%) supported replacing the federal gas tax with a mileage fee where the rate would vary according to the vehicle’s pollution emissions.
“Public support for a mileage fee depends on the details of how the fee is structured,” said study co-author Asha Weinstein Agrawal. “More than half of respondents supported not only the pollution-rate mileage fee but also a new ‘Business Road-Use Fee’ that would be charged to delivery and freight trucks (58%) or to taxis and ride-hailing vehicles (53%). By contrast, the least popular mileage fee option was a flat-rate fee on all travel. Support for this option was only 39%.”
The survey also found that the majority of respondents supported lower mileage-fee rates for low-income drivers: almost two-thirds (64%) supported this option.
The survey also assessed public knowledge about federal gas taxes and support for the idea of raising the federal gas tax rate by 10 cents per gallon. Key findings include:
Only 2% of respondents knew that the federal gas tax rate has not been raised in more than 20 years.
“We have also seen support for implementing a mileage fee on all travel increase over time,” said study co-author Hilary Nixon, PhD. “Support for the flat-rate mileage fee grew from just 22% in 2010 to 39% in 2024. Similarly, support for the pollution-rate version grew from 33% in 2010 to 51% in 2024.”
Almost three-quarters of respondents supported raising the gas tax rate if the revenue would be dedicated to maintaining streets and highways (74% support). In contrast, far fewer respondents supported the same gas tax increase if the revenue were spent for undefined “transportation” purposes.
Support for raising the federal gas tax has risen since 2010.
The survey data for this study was collected from a nationally representative sample of 2,522 adults living in the United States. Respondents completed the online survey in February and March of 2024.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
I wonder how it was worded? I wonder how many “respondents” had anything to do with the trucking industry, which would be hit the hardest with these taxes? Since we all know the general public would always be up for raising taxes, so long as it was the truckers being hit the most. You know, since we’re always in their way, delivering their stuff. Still don’t know how they don’t understand that… Everyone thinks truckers are so horrible but they forget we’re the only way they get their goods.
ask someone not from CALIFORNIA.
The cost of goods will increase to cover fees. At least their would be something concrete to blame inflation.
Typical moronic survey…charge trucks and taxis and food delivery more fees…but then bitch about prices going up…what do you expect from a bunch of idiots in craplifornia !!!!
Amen, Dave!