WASHINGTON, D.C. — New legislation put forth yesterday by two US Senators would require trucking companies to pay 100% of the fuel surcharge they collect to an owner/operator, or whoever actually pays for the fuel.

The move has garnered praise from the Owner-Operators’ Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). Senators Olympia Snow (R-Maine) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) yesterday announced the proposed ‘Truthful Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs’ Act.

“This bill will go a long way toward helping truckers survive the brutal cost of fuel,” responded Todd Spencer, executive vice-president of OOIDA. “And it will provide needed assurance to shippers and ultimately consumers that higher shipping costs are actually because of higher fuel prices and not gouging by greedy middlemen. Senators Snowe and Brown should be commended for their leadership on this matter.”

Here in Canada, there is currently no such legislation requiring carriers to pass 100% of the fuel surcharge they collect on to their owner/operators.

“It’s all too common for middlemen in the trucking industry to push shippers to pay fuel surcharges, but only pass along a portion of those surcharges, or none at all, to the truckers who are actually transporting the goods and paying the fuel bill,” added Spencer.