Fuel Tax Holiday

dieseldiva · May 3, 2008

We've all watched the news reports and are probably aware that both Sen. McCain and Sen. Clinton are FOR a fuel tax holiday from Memorial Day thru Labor Day this year.

Now Sen. Obama doesn't think this is enough and of course, with fuel prices the way they are, NOTHING is enough BUT ANYTHING is better than nothing.

My question to all of you is this: Would you have to time to calculate (from past records) approximately what your savings would be under this program? I'm just curious what the average savings of us truck drivers would be?

Crazynuff · May 3, 2008

Just don't forget to figure the lower fuel surcharge as a result of lower fuel prices .

dieseldiva · May 3, 2008

Crazynuff said:
Just don't forget to figure the lower fuel surcharge as a result of lower fuel prices .

Are you trying to confuse me??? LOL

I am after the 'at the pump' savings on the fuel by waiving the federal tax. FSC is a horse of another color that I hadn't intended to include in the calculation.

dcalien · May 3, 2008

I was watching Fox News, and several of the people on there commented on the savings. Every one of them said 18 cents per gallon.

dieseldiva · May 3, 2008

dcalien said:
I was watching Fox News, and several of the people on there commented on the savings. Every one of them said 18 cents per gallon.

That's 18.4 on gasoline and 24.4 on diesel.

OntarioVanMan · May 3, 2008

This is May now...I think they are blowing smoke...Has the Prez said anything about supporting such a move? After all it wasn't HIS idea.

Besides if I got a decrease in fuel costs I'd prolly go back and speed up and just burn the extra anyways...Havta stay in profile as "dumb truck driver" ya know.

On that note. I don't think the prices are high enough! Been thru Chicago or Detroit lately?? You'd never know it is so high...

dieseldiva · May 3, 2008

OntarioVanMan said:
This is May now...I think they are blowing smoke...Has the Prez said anything about supporting such a move? After all it wasn't HIS idea.
It IS getting on in time. They may be blowing smoke but what are they gonna say if they can't follow up? As far as the Prez....he lives in his own little world!

Besides if I got a decrease in fuel costs I'd prolly go back and speed up and just burn the extra anyways...Havta stay in profile as "dumb truck driver" ya know.
Snap out of it Ken.....get some self discipline and leave the 'dumb truck driver' gig to the other guys.

On that note. I don't think the prices are high enough! Been thru Chicago or Detroit lately?? You'd never know it is so high...
What can I say, some people never learn until it's too, too late.

...................

OntarioVanMan · May 3, 2008

They'll probably do something stupid and exempt commercial vehicles...This is more for the traveling public during summer holidays and the RV 'ers.
Being a van that fuels up out front with the RV's I'll get the break and YOU won't...shafted again EH!

Self control?? I am a guy remember...

dieseldiva · May 3, 2008

I think I heard a neener, neener, neener in that!

OntarioVanMan · May 3, 2008

anyways back to subject..........

If they do lower the price, the FSC will be a bit lower and maybe it'll be a bit busier for some that are slow, as shippers costs will be also abit lower. A .24 drop should be about 2-3 cent drop in FSC...so your actually real time savings would be abit lower.

ratwell71 · May 6, 2008

Why not fix the problem? Stop the federal reserve from playing around with the interest rates so the dollar can regain its value.

dieseldiva · May 7, 2008

ratwell71 said:
Why not fix the problem? Stop the federal reserve from playing around with the interest rates so the dollar can regain its value.

Are ya crazy??? LOL That would take common sense and that, unfortunately, isn't very common any more.

LDB · May 7, 2008

Dropping the fuel tax is a fool's errand. It will result in minimal savings and create a ripple effect in reduced road maintenance that will cost exponentially more than the savings. If your truck gets 8mpg it will reduce your fuel cost 3cpm so it should be easy to figure your savings. Your fuel surcharge will drop by 2-3cpm since the national average price of diesel at the pump will be lower.

Basically, it means nothing to commercial drivers except the privilege of driving on even worse maintained crappy roads for a very long time. It is a look good / feel good proposal to fool the public who will think they've been blessed by their benevolent government as they run around in their SUV. When they get the bill for the quarter million or so additional unemployed they may think differently. I am opposed to it and letting my 3 congress critters know they need to vote against it.

Jayman · May 8, 2008

Dont mean anything for regular joes either. Especially if a plan like Hillary's went into effect. (pass the loss in tax revenue to big oil) They would more than likely pass that increased cost of doing business on to the consumer. I would pass the cost on if I owned Shell Oil and paid out $18 billion in 2007 taxes.

Im certainly not an advocate for big oil. But, how about other industrys that are making record profits who have a higher "profit margin" than big oil? Take the grain industry for example. Making big $s, our food prices are going up, but nobody is talking about how evil they are for running a successful business.

Regarding big oil's "record profits"... I think OPEC, our own environmental standards, and energy speculators/investors have a much bigger impact on the price at the pumps than the oil companies.

ratwell71 · May 9, 2008

LDB said:
Dropping the fuel tax is a fool's errand. It will result in minimal savings and create a ripple effect in reduced road maintenance that will cost exponentially more than the savings. If your truck gets 8mpg it will reduce your fuel cost 3cpm so it should be easy to figure your savings. Your fuel surcharge will drop by 2-3cpm since the national average price of diesel at the pump will be lower.

Basically, it means nothing to commercial drivers except the privilege of driving on even worse maintained crappy roads for a very long time. It is a look good / feel good proposal to fool the public who will think they've been blessed by their benevolent government as they run around in their SUV. When they get the bill for the quarter million or so additional unemployed they may think differently. I am opposed to it and letting my 3 congress critters know they need to vote against it.

Drop the fuel tax for those in the transportation industry and raise the fuel tax for those that can but do not car pool. Raising the fuel tax for commuters would keep them from using more of it.

Maybe they will think twice before vacationing, speeding, or joy riding. The only way to get a handle on our use of oil is to put a stiff penalty on using it unnecessarily.

I am totally in agreement with you on this asinine holiday.

Tennesseahawk · May 9, 2008

If you penalize ppl for doing the unnecessary, we have a problem. Who defines unnecessary? Government bureaucrats, that's who. The same ppl who want to dictate necessity on healthcare, social security, education, etc. Oil will cost a certain amount, no matter what. But saying that Billy Bob should pay some of Peggy Sue's gas because he decides he wants to take a vacation that the government deems unnecessary... do you know how dumb that sounds? Let's say it goes thru. Billy Bob, and many others decide not to take that vacation. They don't get hotels for the night, buy souvenirs, go to the casino, take a local tour, etc. Now, it's not Billy Bob that suffers, it's the tourism industry.

When government starts manipulating prices, and penalizing ppl for spending their own money the way they see fit, EVERYONE suffers. It's up to the PEOPLE to use common sense; not for the government to dictate it.

ratwell71 · May 9, 2008

Tennesseahawk said:
If you penalize ppl for doing the unnecessary, we have a problem. Who defines unnecessary? Government bureaucrats, that's who. The same ppl who want to dictate necessity on healthcare, social security, education, etc. Oil will cost a certain amount, no matter what. But saying that Billy Bob should pay some of Peggy Sue's gas because he decides he wants to take a vacation that the government deems unnecessary... do you know how dumb that sounds? Let's say it goes thru. Billy Bob, and many others decide not to take that vacation. They don't get hotels for the night, buy souvenirs, go to the casino, take a local tour, etc. Now, it's not Billy Bob that suffers, it's the tourism industry.

When government starts manipulating prices, and penalizing ppl for spending their own money the way they see fit, EVERYONE suffers. It's up to the PEOPLE to use common sense; not for the government to dictate it.

I agee with most of your statement, however, people are not using common sense. Some are born with it and then the rest, well, are just born ______. You fill in the blank. The government sets policies in motion every day that affects our livelihood. There are still open policies that do not apply today that are being funded with tax payer's dollars. The only way to get a handle on our use is to come up with a feasible solution to the problem. We, the people, must help our government come up with this solution. God knows they won't come up with it on their own. The only thing they (candidates) have bothered to come up with is this stupid fuel tax holiday. This is the kind of crapola we will have to contend with once this person is in office. Instead of tackling the real issue behind the problem let us cover it up with rebate checks and fuel tax holidays.

I agree that Betty should not have to pay because of Paul, but you know we must do something about our usage of oil. If we do not start to make our own or find an alternative this issue will be swept under the rug for many more years. Our government did this same thing back in the '70's. Tourism is being affected just like the transportation industry. Everyone is being affected by this oil issue. The public service sector is also feeling it.

The government is what sets policies in motion. We, the people, are powerless in regards to creating policies, but we can pass on some really smart ideas.

ratwell71 · May 9, 2008

And I totally agree that these types of issues help create a bigger government. This is called breaking the will of a governed body or mass. Once you have this you have a people that are willing to feed on the lies being spewed out. You know, Our Savior Mentality. The masses will want to flock around the one that has a plan. The only problem is they won't read between the lines. They will see a plan but not one that is feasible. One that does not take into account that nothing remains the same. What is being promised today will not be relevant in the future. This is why we have amendments to the Constitution.

greg334 · May 9, 2008

ratwell71 said:
And I totally agree that these types of issues help create a bigger government. This is called breaking the will of a governed body or mass. Once you have this you have a people that are willing to feed on the lies being spewed out. You know, Our Savior Mentality. The masses will want to flock around the one that has a plan. The only problem is they won't read between the lines. They will see a plan but not one that is feasible. One that does not take into account that nothing remains the same. What is being promised today will not be relevant in the future. This is why we have amendments to the Constitution.

As much as many hate Bush, show me something that Obama has done to move toward a smaller government?

my fear is that we will end up exactly what others want, a socialist in office with a democratic congress who will push things through that will ruin the country.

As far as the parties go, the dems lead the way on Marxist tactics, they like to keep people down and uneducated (public education). They have the chance to fulfill any promises they made two years ago and have not, why?

It don't matter, the problem is we can debate things all day long but action is needed. So is an open mind for solutions, like smaller government, but the problem right now is the stupidity of some who hate bush for no real reason, he didn't impact their lives as they think he has and this has clouded their ability to see clearly and to judge actions of others.

On the tax holiday, I would like to see a change in taxes completely but again I am calling my fellow Americans stupid because many of them will complain about high taxes but don't want to change things. I can't ask this any other way, but we have had the same tax system for 96 years and it is based on Marx's idea of what a tax system should be like. Has it worked so far? I don't think so, we have a screwed up system that we base our entire lives on how taxes impact us, why not try something different now? While we are going back to the mid 20th century that the world left behind, the rest of the world is moving forward. Even some African countries who you would never thought to embrace capitalism have done that. They have shed their Marxist ways and opened their country to free trade, lower taxes and a more positive enviorment for businesses to flourish.

ratwell71 · May 9, 2008

greg334 said:
As much as many hate Bush, show me something that Obama has done to move toward a smaller government?

(((Nothing. Look at the bills that he helped pass.)))

my fear is that we will end up exactly what others want, a socialist in office with a democratic congress who will push things through that will ruin the country.

(((I agree. 100 percent.))) We do not need a socialist in office.)))

As far as the parties go, the dems lead the way on Marxist tactics, they like to keep people down and uneducated (public education). They have the chance to fulfill any promises they made two years ago and have not, why?

(((That is the way they like it. The dumber the better. The control factor.)))

It don't matter, the problem is we can debate things all day long but action is needed. So is an open mind for solutions, like smaller government, but the problem right now is the stupidity of some who hate bush for no real reason, he didn't impact their lives as they think he has and this has clouded their ability to see clearly and to judge actions of others.

(((The haters have their reasons to hate Bush. I don't think we can speak for all haters here though. If I listed his failures here it would be a great big paragraph and I think I have stated most of the obvious reasons in my other posts.))))

On the tax holiday, I would like to see a change in taxes completely but again I am calling my fellow Americans stupid because many of them will complain about high taxes but don't want to change things. I can't ask this any other way, but we have had the same tax system for 96 years and it is based on Marx's idea of what a tax system should be like. Has it worked so far? I don't think so, we have a screwed up system that we base our entire lives on how taxes impact us, why not try something different now? While we are going back to the mid 20th century that the world left behind, the rest of the world is moving forward. Even some African countries who you would never thought to embrace capitalism have done that. They have shed their Marxist ways and opened their country to free trade, lower taxes and a more positive enviorment for businesses to flourish.