There are many different opinions on how involved the government should become in the freight shipping industry and transportation in the United States. First, there are tax issues. In its most recent report, The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Student Commission, comprised of logistics industry figureheads, proposed a fuel tax increase to help support funding for interstate infrastructure.  The Bush administration is very much against any sort of tax hike.

Current administration officials explain that freight haulers need to use the current infrastructure more wisely; for example, spacing out volume by providing incentives for hauling freight during the night. The bottom line, the jury is out on tax increases, and any potential electoral candidate who supports them is risking quite a bit.

Government agencies are also focusing on truck safety. In doing so, they are paying attention to using new technologies to make sure truckers comply with rules. This regulation could further lessen the supply of freight which could come back to haunt us as we pull out of the recession and find lots of demand and a shrunken freight supply.