Miscellaneous
Fatalities in truck-involved crashes have risen by about a third since 2009 and reached 4,951 killed on U.S. roads in 2018, the latest year for which federal data is available. Truck-related fatalities represent 13.5 percent of the overall traffic-death total that year. The Federal Excise Tax (FET) on heavy-duty trucks was first imposed in 1917 to help pay for World War I. Interesting to note it began around the same time as the last major pandemic. This tax on most new heavy-duty trucks, tractors and trailers was originally 3% and has now grown to 12%. As the highest excise tax on a percentage basis that Congress levies on a product, the FET often adds as much as $20,000- $30,000 to the price of a new heavy-duty truck. This cost prevents companies from buying newer and safer vehicles. The FET is prohibitive. Excise taxes go to the Federal Government. It is important to note that heavy trucks are all American made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.