Surcharge legislation on the docket

July 1, 2008
Fuel surcharges have become a hot topic as truckload carriers and brokers hit hard by rising diesel prices look to pass on the costs. However, some intermediaries have tried to take advantage of the surcharges. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has introduced an amendment to the 2009 Dept. of Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 5658) aimed at protecting truckers from intermediaries. It stipulates that all surcharges

Fuel surcharges have become a hot topic as truckload carriers and brokers hit hard by rising diesel prices look to pass on the costs. However, some intermediaries have tried to take advantage of the surcharges.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has introduced an amendment to the 2009 Dept. of Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 5658) aimed at protecting truckers from intermediaries. It stipulates that all surcharges paid by the government are passed to the trucker buying the fuel in all Dept. of Defense loads. The amendment states: “In all carriage contracts in which a fuel-related adjustment is provided for, the Secretary of Defense shall require that a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder providing or arranging truck transportation or service using fuel for which it does not bear the cost pay to the person who bears the cost of such fuel the amount of all charges that relate to the cost of fuel that were invoiced or otherwise presented to the person responsible directly to the motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder for payment for the transportation or service.”

DeFazio's amendment was added to the bill on a voice vote, and was approved by the House by a 383 to 26 vote. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. (OOIDA) praised the measure. “We are thankful to Congress for making sure valuable taxpayer dollars are spent wisely to support our men and women in uniform and those who support them on the home front,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA exec. vp. “The money from fuel surcharges should not go to pad someone's pocket, but be used properly to support our military actions and efforts.”

The amendment comes on the heels of the TRUCC (Truth in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs) Act, which dictates a 100% pass-through of fuel surcharges to whoever buys the fuel on all loads. The bill would stop brokers and middlemen who charge shippers for fuel costs but do not pass the costs to the operators who pay for the fuel.

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the TRUCC Act in the Senate last month. DeFazio, Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI) and Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) then introduced an identical bill in the House on May 6.

“In normal circumstances, this seems patently unfair, but in this day of $4-plus-per-gallon diesel fuel, it is unconscionable that a fuel surcharge is being assessed but not passed on to the one actually paying the fuel bill,” Petri said. “I have been told by one of my constituents, who is an independent trucker who will be appearing in bankruptcy court … that this inequity contributed to his financial problems. It's not right and it should be corrected.”

“Small business truckers are often at the mercy of freight brokers, logistics intermediaries and larger trucking companies,” Snowe said.

About the Author

Justin Carretta

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