[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.] ATA Continues Push for Excise Tax Repeal on New Trucks House Panel to Debate Highway Bill This Month Senior Reporter Key Takeaways: - American Trucking Associations renewed its push to repeal the 12% federal excise tax on new heavy-duty trucks as House lawmakers prepare a multiyear highway bill. - ATA and bill sponsors said the World War I-era tax adds $15,000 to $30,000 to new truck purchases and discourages fleets from replacing older vehicles. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to vote on its highway bill before Memorial Day, though excise tax repeal remains uncertain. As House lawmakers prepare to consider a comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization bill later this month, American Trucking Associations renewed its push for repeal of the federal excise tax on the sale of heavy-duty trucks and trailers. Speaking with Transport Topics, David Bauer, ATA vice president of state and tax policy, pressed transportation leaders on Capitol Hill to eliminate the World War I-era levy, which he described as outdated and punitive to the trucking industry. “The time is now ripe,” Bauer said. “This is over a century where we are being singled out.” During the current congressional session, lawmakers introduced the bipartisan Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act, which would repeal the 12% federal excise tax on certain new heavy-duty trucks, tractors and trailers. Congressional leaders have not scheduled the measure for consideration. Bill sponsors say the tax can potentially add between $15,000 and $30,000 to the purchase price of a new truck. The excise tax is assessed at the time of sale and does not apply to used trucks, a structure that advocates say discourages fleet turnover and incentivizes the continued use of older, less fuel-efficient vehicles. The average heavy-duty truck