Here is a Court Case Concerning
US Express Leasing, Inc. vs Illinois Department of Revenue, No 1-07-1204(Illinois Court of Appeals, Third Division. August 27, 2008
The Court has ruled that a commerical trucking company is subject to the state's motor fuel tax for the time spent idling off public highways. The trucking company installed devices on its trucks allowing it to determine where its trucks were consuming diesel fuel.
During one period, the company determined its trucks while on private property, consumed
581,145 gallons of fuel while in idle. The court reasoned that the motor fuel tax for all gas consumed by commerical trucks and not merely a tax for vehicles while they are driving on public roads.
Note: This was a very clever approach to reducing motor fuel taxes that was possible only with the new technology in the trucks. Allowing for the non payment of taxes in this case would have created a significant administrative burden for the Department of Revenue, which would of auditing idle time records. I wonder how many trucking companies want an auditor riding with them so that idle time can be determined.
The technology on all new trucks are installed inside the Qual-Comm satellite Systems. and the Illinois Department of Revenue can pull your idle time off the computer at the Company offices. They have not enforced it as yet, but according to Illinois, they have a very large shortfall in there budget, and this is one way of charging for it.
So Keep an eye out at the truckstops for DOR trucks, they might want to audit your idlings and charge you for the fuel tax for doing it.
Frank
US Express Leasing, Inc. vs Illinois Department of Revenue, No 1-07-1204(Illinois Court of Appeals, Third Division. August 27, 2008
The Court has ruled that a commerical trucking company is subject to the state's motor fuel tax for the time spent idling off public highways. The trucking company installed devices on its trucks allowing it to determine where its trucks were consuming diesel fuel.
During one period, the company determined its trucks while on private property, consumed
581,145 gallons of fuel while in idle. The court reasoned that the motor fuel tax for all gas consumed by commerical trucks and not merely a tax for vehicles while they are driving on public roads.
Note: This was a very clever approach to reducing motor fuel taxes that was possible only with the new technology in the trucks. Allowing for the non payment of taxes in this case would have created a significant administrative burden for the Department of Revenue, which would of auditing idle time records. I wonder how many trucking companies want an auditor riding with them so that idle time can be determined.
The technology on all new trucks are installed inside the Qual-Comm satellite Systems. and the Illinois Department of Revenue can pull your idle time off the computer at the Company offices. They have not enforced it as yet, but according to Illinois, they have a very large shortfall in there budget, and this is one way of charging for it.
So Keep an eye out at the truckstops for DOR trucks, they might want to audit your idlings and charge you for the fuel tax for doing it.
Frank