Diesel downtrend hits Iowa road tax coffers

Containers riding across a state on a railroad flatcar don't pay ANY fuel tax. If the state raises the fuel tax more, it makes more freight end up on the train, and even less money for the state, not to mention all the small companies that will go out of business.

States unlike businesses can easily make up for minor losses. They tax more, don't hire replacements for the already under worked employees backed by unions to ensure they are paid higher wages with more benefits than most workers of similar types. When gov is accountable for work performance people may care. I wish I only lost 2% of my work revenues last year! Larger truck companies will just ship in fuel needed there to fuel their rigs, owner/op will just go under when the state raises it's taxes to offset their minor losses of revenue. Live in NYS that's their answer to everything.

States and local governments are running short, partly because of free stuff they provide for illegals, partly from less tax being collected. Partly from Police double-dip and triple-dip pensions. They can get 100% pension and lifetime medical insurance after 20 years, go down the street and work for the next town at full pay, get 8 years in for an additional partial pension and go work full time at a third town at full pay while collecting the other 2 pensions. No problem, they just go and put in red light cameras and do "Bulls--t tickets for truckers campaigns" to raise revenue.

We picked the wrong occupation! The old saying "I wish I was a Smokey, then I wouldn't have to WORK for a living!" now could be " "I wish I had been a Smokey, I would be retired by now!"

Midnightrider wrote:

We picked the wrong occupation! The old saying "I wish I was a Smokey, then I wouldn't have to WORK for a living!" now could be " "I wish I had been a Smokey, I would be retired by now!"

I am glad I was a Smokey and I am glad to be retired. You chose your occupation.

Retired IL S P wrote:

<quoted text>I am glad I was a Smokey and I am glad to be retired. You chose your occupation.

MY taxes pay for YOUR pension.

Retired IL S P wrote:

<quoted text>I am glad I was a Smokey and I am glad to be retired. You chose your occupation.

Your fat pensions are why the state is so broke. You could work to 65 like everyone else. If you can't handle the road, you could still do paperwork and answer the phone. Work out the rest of your time behind a desk!

The reason everyone in trucking is going broke is because we are willing to haul cheap freight. If we would stick together and set a decent per mile minimum or maybe for a month everyone boycott the same broker orcheap shipper things would change fast. Its a free country we are free to go broke together or make a decent living togather.

Retired IL S P wrote:

<quoted text>I am glad I was a Smokey and I am glad to be retired. You chose your occupation.

In Illinois the state police are union, that's why you got such a good deal.

Bulldog Don wrote:

<quoted text>Your fat pensions are why the state is so broke. You could work to 65 like everyone else. If you can't handle the road, you could still do paperwork and answer the phone. Work out the rest of your time behind a desk!

You want me to go back to work? I could pull you over for a complete inspection every day! If I find anything, FINE! That will pull the state out of the red. You still want me to go back to work?

I am happy you are retired. They need to save money though by only hiring 1 replacement for every 2 that retire. They could cut the workload by cutting out the chicken-s--t inspections, speed traps, and harassment of truckers. Concentrate on criminals and drunk drivers. We will call you when needed. Quit using truckers as a revenue source. We pay plenty in taxes, fees, and license plates already!