Paving the Way: A Fair Funding Future for US Roads

The Highway Trust Fund, the financial backbone of America’s surface transportation system, is no longer sustainable. As vehicles become more fuel efficient and electric, gas tax revenues are steadily eroding, leaving the nation without a reliable way to fund critical infrastructure. To ensure long-term solvency, Congress should implement a national road user charge (RUC)—starting with the commercial trucking sector—as a practical, modern solution.

Despite bipartisan support for a range of state pilot programs, sometimes called mileage-based user fees (MBUFs) or vehicle miles traveled taxes (VMTTs), federal momentum remains sluggish. A national RUC mandate for heavy trucks is the most feasible and impactful place to begin.

Heavy trucks already possess the necessary GPS technology, making them a logical, cost-effective entry point. They also cause a disproportionately high share of wear on U.S. roadways, yet current fuel taxes fail to cover that impact. A national RUC for trucks would better align usage with payments, reduce market-distorting subsidies, and help establish the technical and policy framework needed to eventually expand the system to all vehicles.

Please join ITIF for a panel on Capitol Hill with top experts who will explore the technological feasibility and legislative pathway for how a commercial trucking RUC can serve as the foundation for a sustainable, long-term solution to America’s transportation funding crisis.

Question for the speakers? Ask on Slido.