[Vwdiesel] per mile costs

[Scott Kair]

Val wrote:
 
>>The problem I have with all of this is that I pay more tax on diesel fuel
than I do autogas, because there is the assumption that I'm driving a truck.
The fuel tax is on the fuel modality, not the vehicle type, but the vehicle
type is assumed.<<

    Good point, and one worth pursuing.  The catch is how to implement
exempting or reducing automotive Diesel fuel from truck tax rates without
adding a perceived undue burden to other interested parties. While doing it
at the pump, perhaps accompanied by dyeing it, would seem immediately
obvious, smaller commercial vehicles also fill up at our automotive pumps.
This would set the larger fleet consumers to howling. Requiring separate
pumps for commercial and non-commercial vehicles would certainly be opposed
by the petroleum marketing lobby. 

    The question, I guess, is how to present a case for relief that doesn't
add burden to other interested parties.

>>The rail infrastructure, with all it's big diesel engines, appears to be
in a permanent shrinking mode. <<

    While certainly true of passenger rail service, I'm not sure that it
holds true for freight service.  Trucking holds an advantage for quick,
dedicated delivery in industries that no longer maintain months worth of
inventory. Rail holds the advantage for pure bulk.

    The rail industry has historically been heavily regulated, which is to
say fat and happy with a guaranteed return. There seems to be some
industry-wide consolidation and restructuring, and the corporate
consequences of the shakeout aren't clear yet. We'll probably not see rail
reefer cars full of produce again, but living in a junction town with
containerized freight trains blocking intersections every 20 minutes leads
me to question industry shrinkage.

Scott